Liverpool handed major injury boost before Real Madrid as Arne Slot options set to increase

Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was injured during the game with Aston Villa and hasn't played for club or country since, has returned to training ahead of facing Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League.

It means that Arne Slot has been handed a major boost ahead of the glamor tie — and the visit of Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday — though it remains to be seen whether or not he will start against the Spanish giant. Conor Bradley filled in for him during the 3-2 win over Southampton.

Slot will issue a full injury update during his press conference which will take place at 3.30pm UK time (10.30am ET). Federico Chiesa was spotted training alone before the session before he then joined the main group, while Alisson Becker is still to return, as expected, as he continues rehab on a hamstring issue.

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Liverpool has not beaten Real Madrid since 2009 and Virgil van Dijk is desperate for that run to come to an end. With Vinicius Jr, Aurelien Tchouameni and several others out injured for Carlo Ancelotti's men, there might never be a better chance.

"To be absolutely honest with you, I don't need fuel [of revenge] to be absolutely ready," Van Dijk said, via the ECHO. "But it's the Champions League, it's a massive game, a beautiful fixture for the neutral and we want to be on top and come out of it with a win.

"Listen, the fact is that I have never beaten them. That record (no wins in eight) is a very disappointing stat so it's down to recovery and getting ready for a big one and I am looking forward to it."

"Liverpool is a team with a new coach after many years with Jurgen Klopp," Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said ahead of the match, giving an interview to his club's in-house TV channel. "Now with Slot, it is a very dynamic, offensive team, with the same dynamic.

"With a lot of pressure, a lot of attacks, good counter-attacks and a lot of speed up front. Playing at Anfield is a plus for them. They will surely be very keen on us because they lost the final in Paris and the round of 16 in 2023. They will want that little revenge and we hope to win."