What Arne Slot said to Conor Bradley after Trent Alexander-Arnold blow as Liverpool recovery stepped up

Conor Bradley is set to start for Liverpool away at Southampton on Sunday. Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the Reds’ trip to St. Mary’s with a hamstring injury, and is a doubt for their clash with Real Madrid at least as a result.

Consequently, Bradley is poised to come into Arne Slot’s starting XI against the Saints. And he was given a warm reception by the Dutchman upon his return to the AXA Training Centre after international duty.

The Northern Ireland international played for his country in their 2-0 victory over Belarus and 2-2 draw with Luxembourg during the November international break, scoring in the latter as they earned promotion in the Nations League as winners of Group 3C.

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And upon his return to Liverpool’s training ground base, he was greeted warmly by Slot.

“Goalscorer!” the Reds head coach shouted after spotting the defender and walking over to embrace him. “You did well,” he appeared to say to Bradley, before adding: “Good game.”

Bradley has made 10 appearances for Liverpool so far this season, but hasn’t started in the Premier League since the Reds’ 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace back in April. Meanwhile, he missed three matches after reporting back injured following the October international break.

Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Southampton, Slot confirmed that Alexander-Arnold was touch-and-go to be fit in time for Liverpool’s clash with Real Madrid.

“Trent isn’t training with us yet,” the Dutchman said. “But he is getting there so we expect him to be back with us soon.

When asked if any of his walking wounded would be available for Real Madrid, he said: “The only thing I can say is that with Alisson and with Jota, I don’t expect them to be available for that game. With Trent, it’s going to be in between.”

Alexander-Arnold is one of four players who are set to miss Liverpool’s trip to Southampton along with Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa.

However, the Brazilian is back in individual training, while Slot confirmed that the Italian could take the next step in his recovery on Friday.

“Jota is still apart from the group, same as Federico, who is coming back into the session maybe in one exercise today,” he said. “They are all expected to be back within now and a few weeks, but the last part of the recovery is always the most difficult one. So, let’s wait and see.”

While still side-lined, Jota was pictured continuing his rehabilitation in the gym at the AXA Training Centre on Friday in a post published on the club’s social media channels. He was also spotted kitted up in the dressing room in a video as Slot’s squad headed outside.