Trent Alexander: Thursday’s return to action for Liverpool did not go as planned. The Reds’ Carabao Cup title defense ended in the round of 16 with a 3-2 loss to Manchester City, but the focus will swiftly shift to the Premier League.
On Boxing Day, Jurgen Klopp and his squad start their league season on the road against Aston Villa.
As a consequence of variable fitness levels and preparation durations resulting from the World Cup, the near future participation of players is not guaranteed. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are two players whose supporters are eager to watch the play as Liverpool attempts to return to winning ways.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are expected to play against Aston Villa
There are both positive and negative developments for Liverpool supporters.
Klopp announced in his pregame press conference that Van Dijk has resumed full training and would be available for the Villa encounter. Alexander-Arnold seems to have got the same illness as the rest of the United Kingdom and has been unwell for the last several days.
Klopp indicated that the Englishman has been exercising intermittently and expects the right-back to be healthier by Christmas Day.
Van Dijk is a lock to replace Alexander-Arnold, while Alexander-status Arnold depends on the severity of his sickness. The Reds are anticipated to make a few lineup changes following the week’s loss to City.
Trent Alexander-Arnold participating in the World Cup
If the defender cannot go to Villa, he will not have played much since mid-November.
England may have advanced to the round of eight before losing to France in the quarterfinals, but Alexander-Arnold played barely over half an hour in his country’s last group game, a 3-0 triumph against Wales.
Although this illness may have other intentions, he and his management will want to return to activity as quickly as possible to restore individual momentum.
Virgil van Dijk during the World Cup
In Qatar, ‘Big Virg’ was much more prominent, but he too was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
The center-back captained the Dutch throughout the whole tournament, missing no matches. He was dependable as the Netherlands secured two clean sheets in Group A before a 3-1 victory against the United States and a penalty shootout loss to Argentina in the round of 16.
His most famous incident of the 2022 World Cup was when he sent Leandro Paredes to the ground after the Argentine brutally kicked the ball at the Dutch bench.
While Alexander-participation Arnold on Monday is uncertain, van Dijk is set to play after returning to first-team training without incident.
He must be on high alert against a Villa team that has regained its groove since Unai Emery’s arrival. Two consecutive Premier League victories under the Spaniard have propelled them to 12th in the standings. With five goals in that span, there doesn’t seem to be much need for tinkering – except in goal, as Emi Martinez celebrates Argentina’s victory by doing whatever he’s doing.
