ARNE SLOT has refused to confirm that Trent Alexander-Arnold will stay at Liverpool this month.
Real Madrid have seen their official approach for the right-back rejected and they are prepared to pay £20m for him this month, even though Alexander-Arnold could join them on a free transfer in the summer.
Liverpool face Manchester United on Sunday and asked if he could categorically confirm that Liverpool will NOT allow Alexander-Arnold to leave, Reds manager Slot said: “I can tell you that he is playing on Sunday.
“And hopefully he brings the same performance he has brought in for the last half year. Everyone has seen how a great a half of the season he has had.
“I see him on the training ground every day, working his a**e off and is fully committed to us and he will play on Sunday – if they don’t tell me he is sick. But I don’t expect that.”
Alexander-Arnold is one of three major stars out of contract in the summer with Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk also free to talk to overseas clubs now.
The Merseyside-born defender has not indicated to Liverpool that he is ready to leave but with injury-hit Real Madrid making an attempt for him now, it seems they are confident that the player will join them at some stage.
Asked if he has spoken to Alexander-Arnold since the approach from Real, Slot said: “I speak to every player once in a while and that is the same for Trent, so yes.”
For Sunday’s big game with United, both Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate could be available as they returned to training today.
Both have not played since the 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid on November 27.
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Bradley has been out with a thigh problem and Konata has been sidelined with a knee injury.
Joe Gomez suffered a thigh injury in the 5-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday and faces a spell on the sidelines.
Slot said: “Joe is not in a good place with his injury. He is out for a few weeks.”
