Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Trent Alexander-Arnold is fit to face Tottenham in Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg following his poor performance against Manchester United.
Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this month and was beyond himself in Sunday’s thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield.
But Slot says the whole squad is ready to respond against Tottenham and highlighted their excellent season so far.
He said: “I think we were all disappointed [about Sunday’s draw with Manchester United] not only Trent Alexander-Arnold, we were all disappointed.
“First of all, about the result. Parts of our game that we weren’t completely happy with. It wasn’t just Trent, there were more things we could have done better.
Next, ours #CarabaoCup the first match of the semi-finals ✊ pic.twitter.com/ZrwbFI7xcF
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“Trent didn’t play his best game, but some others didn’t play their best either.
“If you play 50, 60 games in a season, one of them will not be your best performance. Perhaps we should point out that these players are playing so well despite playing two games in a week.
“I think it will benefit every player [not just Trent Alexander-Arnold – to play again tomorrow]. Everyone wants to play. Almost everyone is capable.”
Liverpool have lost just once all season in all competitions under Sloto – at Nottingham Forest – and have won an incredible 23 of their 28 games so far.
They won the EFL Cup for a record 10th time last season and go into Wednesday’s game against Tottenham as favorites to do so.
Like Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are out of contract this summer, but Slott says they remain focused on winning.
“If Mohamed Salah misses a penalty against Real Madrid, he is hampered by his ‘contract situation,'” Slot said.
“If Trent doesn’t play well, he’s hampered by the ‘contract situation’.
“If everyone plays well, no one is distracted by their ‘contract interference.’
“I’m not focused on social media posts or what people are saying. If you do that as Liverpool manager, you will have no life, because people are always talking about us.”
Team news – Szoboszlai doubts
Liverpool have been boosted by the return of defenders Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley, who both featured against United on Sunday.
Striker Federico Chiesa was on the bench for that game and is available, but midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is unlikely to play due to illness.
