Liverpool suffer injury setback plus Trent Alexander-Arnold latest before Wolves and Aston Villa clashes

Liverpool could have Trent Alexander-Arnold back from injury in time to face Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa in quick succession, but Joe Gomez is unlikely to feature in either fixture.

Arne Slot has provided a fitness update for the Liverpool defensive duo ahead of this Wednesday’s trip to Everton. Although it’s still a few days out from the game against Wolves and over a week until the clash at Villa, Slot’s comments give us a good idea of how likely Alexander-Arnold and Gomez are to feature.

Out with a thigh issue, Alexander-Arnold missed the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg victory over Tottenham Hotspur and the surprise defeat to Plymouth Argyle. Gomez, meanwhile, was forced off during the loss at Home Park as he suffered a recurrence of a previous injury.

“Trent has done parts of training sessions with us. Not ‘sessions’, a session yesterday,” Slot told LFCTV. “So, let’s see how he is today. He will train, hopefully, with us again and then we have to decide if we to take him to the game, yes or no.

“Then Joe it’s the same leg where he had the injury last time. We are still assessing that but he will definitely not be available tomorrow. That’s mostly a concern.”

With those comments in mind, Alexander-Arnold could feature against Everton but is unlikely to make the starting XI. Gomez, on the other hand, won’t be available for selection and is likely to miss the Wolves and Villa matches as well.

Slot embarrassed by Plymouth defeat, excited for Everton response

Liverpool take on Everton at Goodison Park this Wednesday before their matches against Wolves and Villa. The Reds will be desperate to bounce back after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to Plymouth on Sunday, exiting the FA Cup at the fourth round stage.

Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty was enough for Argyle to advance to the fifth round, knocking out the Premier League leaders in remarkable fashion. Slot rotated heavily for that game - with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo left at home - but it was an embarrassing defeat nonetheless.

When asked about the result now the dust has settled, Slot said: “It has an impact because if you’re working at a club like this, you should be competing for every trophy. To go out on the second occasion, to lose against Plymouth is not acceptable. As a team - and our fans as well - we are disappointed by that result.

“Now we have to show a different side of us because it wasn’t only the result, the performance was far from what Liverpool standards are as well.”

As far as opportunities to respond go, it doesn’t get much better than taking on bitter local rivals Everton in the last-ever Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park. Slot is excited for the clash with the Toffees but is aware the noise within the ground will be difficult to contend with.

“It’s an extra reason the atmosphere will be even better than all the occasions before,” Slot admitted. “I haven’t been to one but people tell me it’s always a fantastic atmosphere with the home fans there to support their team, and the away fans mostly loud as well.

“It’s probably going to be a fantastic atmopshere, that’s nebver easy to play against because every single thye cross the halfway line, get a corner quick or wahtever, the fans will cheer really loud. You have to be mentally sttrong as an waay team to resist all that. But it’s not the first time for the players, I hope they can focus on what they have to do.”

In other news, BirminghamWorld has exclusively revealed Aston Villa and Arsenal have submitted enquiries to sign two talented Olympiacos teenagers.