Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to Liverpool training before Leicester clash
- Trent Alexander-Arnold recently suffered a hamstring injury
- Right-back made his return to training this week
- Midfielder Thiago Alcantara remains out through injury
By Tom Gott
Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders has confirmed that right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in training after shaking off a hamstring injury.
Alexander-Arnold limped out of the 3-0 win over Aston Villa at the start of September and has missed the team's last three games in all competitions, as well as the international break with England.
Liverpool are back in action on Wednesday when they face Leicester City in the Carabao Cup third round, before which Lijnders revealed Alexander-Arnold is inching closer to a return.
"Trent trained [on Monday] with us but it was just in the rondo and the ball possession with the counter-pressing, but he was outstanding," Lijnders told a press conference.
"You see him instantly, of course. He is with the team training, I am not sure if he will be ready [to face Leicester], we will see today."
Later in the press conference, Lijnders clarified: "Tomorrow comes too early for [Alexander-Arnold]."
With Alexander-Arnold closing in on a return, Liverpool's only remaining injury concern is that of midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who suffered a hip injury towards the end of last season and is yet to make his return.
"We've missed Thiago, no?" Lijnders acknowledged. "He makes the ball arrive in the right spaces. We want him back. He's still not back in training but he's in a good way, the healing process is going well, so that's the most important [thing] at this moment. Time will tell how that goes."
While Liverpool fans are keen to see Alexander-Arnold back in action as soon as possible, Lijnders preferred to shift the focus towards Joe Gomez, who has deputised admirably in the right-back's absence.
"If we speak about Trent we have to make a compliment to Joe Gomez because the way he played the role, played the role in his way but still being able to come inside as well, was just incredible," Jurgen Klopp's assistant added. "His level and attitude, just a big compliment to him because you are replacing one of the best full-backs in the world.
"He did really, really well. That’s good and shows a lot about our squad as well, that we can have that."
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