Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been pictured in training with the Reds as he bids to return from a hamstring injury in time for Wednesday's Premier League Merseyside derby with Everton at Goodison Park.
The England international has sat out Liverpool's last two matches with the minor problem, which he sustained in the 2-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth two weekends ago.
Conor Bradley - his recognised understudy - filled in at right-back for the midweek visit of Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup semi-finals and registered an assist in a 4-0 thrashing, as Liverpool overturned a 1-0 deficit to set up a final with Newcastle United.
Bradley was then rested for the weekend's trip to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, where midfielder James McConnell was shoe-horned into a right-back role as Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah started centrally.
However, Gomez - another alternative right-back option for Arne Slot - was taken off with a hamstring problem after just 11 minutes of that shock 1-0 defeat, and the Liverpool boss confirmed in his pre-game press conference that the 27-year-old would not be fit for the derby.
Alexander-Arnold trains with Liverpool team ahead of Merseyside derby
© Imago
At the same time, Slot revealed that Alexander-Arnold had taken part in some partial training, and he was optimistic that the 26-year-old would also be OK to practice on Tuesday at Kirkby.
True enough, Alexander-Arnold was seen with the ball at his feet as Liverpool released their practice pictures from Tuesday's session, suggesting that the right-back has a good chance of being involved in the derby.
The England international appeared in good spirits as he took part in some shooting drills and other exercises with the rest of the squad, and his return would be a significant boost thanks in no small part to his increased output in recent weeks.
Alexander-Arnold only registered one assist from his first 13 games of the 2024-25 Premier League season, but the 26-year-old has had a direct hand in six goals in his last 10 top-flight appearances, one of his own and five assists.
In total, the Reds' vice-captain has scored two goals of his own while setting up seven more in 31 games across all competitions this term, and his prospective return at Goodison Park would leave Gomez and Tyler Morton (shoulder) as Liverpool's only two injury absentees.
Why Liverpool should not worry if Alexander-Arnold misses derby
TAA 💫 pic.twitter.com/CYn2sls4xx
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 11, 2025
The photographic evidence is certainly promising, but if the Merseyside derby does come a little too soon for Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool will be in extremely safe hands with Bradley.
The Northern Ireland international was also missing from the trip to Plymouth, but he was simply being kept in bubble wrap ahead of Wednesday's game and trained as normal on Tuesday.
An energetic force down the right-hand side for Liverpool, Bradley rightly earned plaudits for his performance against Spurs last week, driving through the heart of the pitch to lay on an assist for Dominik Szoboszlai.
The 21-year-old has only started one Premier League game so far this season - the 3-2 win over Southampton in November - but he could not have done more to earn a second if his superior is indeed ruled out.
Liverpool will move nine points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table by beating Everton, and Golden Boot-chasing attacker Mohamed Salah could also break a Premier League record set by Andy Cole in the final Goodison Park Merseyside derby.
Ben Knapton
