Liverpool Defender out of Merseyside Derby as Arne Slot Provides Injury Updates

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed that a late decision will be made regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s participation in Wednesday’s Premier League Merseyside derby against Everton.

The two fierce rivals will face off at Goodison Park tomorrow night, in a match originally postponed in December due to Storm Darragh.

Liverpool will enter the highly-anticipated clash with an almost fully-fit squad, but Alexander-Arnold has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth two weekends ago.

The 26-year-old missed Liverpool’s EFL Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur and their surprise 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle. However, Slot confirmed during his pre-game press conference that Alexander-Arnold has returned to partial training.

Despite this, the Dutch manager could not assure Alexander-Arnold’s availability for the trip to Goodison, telling reporters: “Trent has participated in parts of a training session with us.

Slot Provides Update on Alexander-Arnold as Joe Gomez Ruled Out

“Not ‘sessions’, just one session, yesterday. We’ll see how he is today. He will hopefully train with us again, and then we have to decide if he will be included in the game.”

While Alexander-Arnold remains a possibility for the derby, fellow defender Joe Gomez is definitely out. The England international sustained another hamstring injury in the weekend’s loss to Plymouth.

Gomez, who captained the team in his first appearance of 2025 after missing several weeks due to a previous hamstring injury against West Ham United at the end of 2024, will not be available for the match.

Slot confirmed that Gomez’s new injury is on the same leg as his previous one, and while he is still under assessment, he will not play tomorrow.

“Joe’s injury is on the same leg as last time. We are still assessing it, but he will definitely not be available tomorrow,” the Liverpool manager added.

Conor Bradley is expected to step in at right-back if neither Gomez nor Alexander-Arnold are fit to play. Liverpool will also be without Tyler Morton, who is still weeks away from returning from a shoulder injury.

Slot Warns Liverpool to Expect “Fantastic” Goodison Atmosphere

Liverpool’s match against Everton on Wednesday marks Slot’s first and last visit to Goodison Park before the Toffees move to Bramley-Moore Dock. The historic venue has hosted many memorable Merseyside derbies over the years.

The former Feyenoord manager anticipates a “fantastic” atmosphere for Wednesday’s game and has cautioned his players about the intensity it could bring, saying: “The atmosphere will be even better than usual. I haven’t experienced it before, but I’ve been told that Goodison Park, like Anfield, always has a fantastic atmosphere.

“When you have the ball, you need to stay calm in this fantastic atmosphere. Our players have experience in such environments, so I hope they can remain focused on their tasks.

“I believe our players are ready for another battle tomorrow. They have been prepared all season, and many of them are familiar with this rivalry.”

Liverpool currently hold a six-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand. A win against Everton will extend their lead to nine points, maintaining their advantage with the same number of matches played.