Arne Slot said Trent Alexander-Arnold remains “fully focused” on recovering from injury but will miss the Merseyside derby at Anfield tomorrow.

The Reds boss also dismissed the perpetual noise surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s supposed move to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.

Slot declined to acknowledge that the rumours and reports have been disruptive on what looks likely to be Trent’s last season at his boyhood club.

“His situation is, unfortunately, that he’s injured,” he told the media today.

“For him that means he’s fully focused on his recovery and for us that means we try and help him to be back as soon as he can.

“For eight months it went a bit up and down with all kinds of talk about him, Virgil and Mo but we’ve never been focused on those talks, we’ve always been focused on what we have to do.

“For Virgil and Mo that’s trying to win the Merseyside derby. And for Trent it’s making sure he’s fit as soon as he can.”

Slot reflected on the two consecutive defeats before the international break and whether the noise around the three players out of contract at the end of the season had any impact.

“It’s a situation that has been there for eight or nine months now and I think these three players have performed so well under these circumstances, so no, it doesn’t affect me at all.

“I think there was a bit of noise about us losing against Paris Saint Germain and losing against Newcastle as well.

“I was a bit more frustrated about the final because we deserved to lose that one and that is the first time we deserved to lose a football game.

“We were not tough in terms of defending. We were not good with the ball so there were not many things to like about the final.”

The Merseyside derby is Liverpool’s first game in over two weeks and their first since they were defeated by Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at Wembley.

The last derby came just 48 days ago and offered goals, red cards and last-minute controversies.

“I expect the same, but with one difference,” Slot said.

“Every time the Everton side do something well, they don’t get the cheers from the crowd, but our players will get that reaction after every tackle they make, after every pass they do and that is a different emotion.

“Football-wise I expect the same because this is what Everton have done since David Moyes has been in charge, they didn’t lose one football game in the last nine Premier League games so it would be a surprise if they did something different.

“We are top of the league so it would be strange if we were to change something as well.”

At the end of the last derby, Slot had a heated confrontation with referee Michael Oliver after some controversial decisions were made in added time.

“I’m hoping I will act different next time but I can’t promise.

“I would be so surprised if I ever experience eight minutes of so many controversial decisions at our disadvantage again.”

Slot believes his players are refreshed and ready for Wednesday’s game.

“Everyone can understand the position we are in. We are all looking forward to the upcoming nine games. The players are refreshed in my opinion.

“We’ve managed to play a final against a very good Newcastle team and we had one great game and the other game we defended very well against Paris Saint Germain which in my opinion was the best game in the Champions League so far.

“We got beaten by a very good team but what a game we played as well.

“You can always look at the result, it was not what we wanted over the two games, but I was proud of our performance against Paris Saint Germain but unfortunately, we lost on penalties.”

The international break came off the back of a four-month spell of consistent games for Liverpool, but Slot insisted his players remained focused and determined despite this.

“If you want to achieve something in the Premier League, in the League Cup or in the FA Cup you need to compete with the best teams in the world so the Premier League teams or the Champions League teams so there’s no room for going a gear down, you always have to be on top of your game.

“We lose against one of the best teams in Europe with Paris Saint Germain. It was not ideal, but if I have to go out of a tournament, I prefer to go out against Paris Saint Germain.

“I prefer to lose against Newcastle and I think it’s an embarrassment and close to a disaster if you lose to Plymouth Argyle.”

Tomorrow’s game at Anfield kicks off at 8pm.

(Featured pic under Alamy Images licence deal)

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