'I can tell you': Slot shares whether Alexander-Arnold will start against Man United after Real Madrid talks
01/03/2025 05:30 AM
Liverpool have an enormous clash coming against Manchester United amid some destabilising transfer rumours.
The Reds’ lead may have been slashed to just three points by the time they take to the field on Sunday, with Arsenal in action the day before.
With United struggling badly under Ruben Amorim, Liverpool head into the game as heavy favourites.
But as last season’s dour 0-0 draw at Anfield showed, the Reds Devils an be a tricky side for Liverpool to get the better of.
In the build-up to the game, all the talk has been surrounding one man in the Liverpool squad: Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold is in Real Madrid’s sights as the Spanish giants attempt to prise him from Liverpool in the January transfer window. And as Trent gets set for talks with Real, Reds boss Arne Slot has revealed whether he will play against Man United.
Trent Alexander-Arnold set to start vs Man United
It was inevitable that Slot would have to field some questions about Alexander-Arnold ahead of the United fixture.
Although Liverpool are still hoping to keep Trent, it seems that Real Madrid are pushing hard in the opposite direction.
As a result, there may have been some wondering whether the right-back’s head would be in the right place to play against United.
But according to Slot, Alexander-Arnold is expected to start on Sunday. Asked directly whether he could rule out a January exit for his No.66, the Liverpool head coach preferred to focus on the match at hand.
“I can tell you that he’s playing on Sunday,” Slot answered.
“Hopefully he brings the same performances that he brought in for the last half year. Because I think everybody saw how great of a first-half of the season he had. How much he is here, how much he wants to win here.”
“He played an incredible game against West ham,” Slot continued. “We all remember the pass he gave to Mo in the first-half.
“I see him on the training ground every day working his ass off. So, he’s fully committed to us and he will play on Sunday unless they tell me he’s sick, which I don’t expect them to.”
Slot fails to reassure Liverpool fans
Since his arrival at the club, Slot’s handling of the press has been impeccable. The 46-year-old has a brilliant command of what to say, when to say it and the tone to use.
But his response to whether he could ‘categorically rule out’ a move for Alexander-Arnold this month was possibly a first misstep here.
Where Liverpool fans perhaps wanted – and expected – reassurance from their head coach, they got none.
This is of course just Slot being honest and maybe he simply cannot say for certain that Alexander-Arnold will not leaving. But he could have said it anyway.
In the meantime, the microscope is set to be on Trent like never before when United come to town on Sunday. It really could be the perfect game for a statement performance from the 26-year-old.
