Arne Slot has hinted that fans could witness the much-awaited return of Trent Alexander-Arnold in Liverpool's critical encounter with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Alexander-Arnold marked his comeback to training earlier on Tuesday, sparking hope that he may feature during a pivotal week for the Merseyside outfit.
Liverpool, buoyed by his return, prepares for a monumental face-off against the European champions before turning their focus to a Premier League top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City on Sunday, where victory could see them extend a massive 11-point gap over Pep Guardiola's outfit.
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The Reds' camp also observed Federico Chiesa intensifying his efforts in regaining full fitness, closely cooperating with the coaches during drills today. However, key players Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, and Kostas Tsimikas remain sidelined, casting a shadow over the squad depth.
Speaking to the media in anticipation of the clash with Madrid, Slot conveyed optimism about Alexander-Arnold's involvement but ruled out any chance of him kicking off the game. "Trent is in the squad but he will not be available to start," stated the Liverpool chief.
"He can maybe make a few minutes, in an ideal world he maybe doesn't, but if it's really necessary he can make a few minutes tomorrow."
Assessing other squad components, Slot added: "Federico's not in the squad yet. He's training with us, not the whole session but one or two parts of it."
Furthermore, Slot shed light on Harvey Elliott's situation, saying: "Harvey Elliott is in the team but hasn't played for a long time, so he's there but not ready to start. Alisson is not there yet, Diogo's not there yet, Kostas is not there, so it's quite a list for us."
Liverpool are aiming for a perfect European streak as they seek their fifth consecutive win to solidify their lead in the Champions League group stage.
However, they face a tough opponent in Real Madrid, a team they've consistently lost to under Jurgen Klopp's management, including in the 2018 and 2022 finals.
"They can win in so many different styles and ways," praised Slot about the Spanish titans. "It's why they have won this competition so many times.
"They always find a way to win the game and go to the next round. Great individual players. But Liverpool has great players at the moment as well. We are looking forward to it."
