Liverpool injury latest and return dates amid Trent Alexander-Arnold update

The international break couldn’t have come at a more frustrating time for Liverpool – although Arne Slot will be hoping for some good news on the injury front over the next week or so.

With the Reds flying after the weekend win over Aston Villa, and their title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal floundering, there’s nothing more that fans would have wanted than for the season to continue uninterrupted. As it is though, they’ll have to wait a couple of weeks before Liverpool returns to action against Southampton.

Slot will be keeping his fingers crossed that his players go unscathed while they’re away on international duty, with a crucial set of fixtures awaiting on the other side of the break. The Liverpool boss will hope to have all his big hitters available for the visits of Real Madrid and Man City, which could shape the rest of the season.

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Liverpool.com has taken a look at the latest situation on the injury front heading into the international break, with a new name being added at the weekend.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold is the latest player to be added to the injury list, having been forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury. He looks set to miss England’s Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland over the next seven days, with Arne Slot delivering a not-so-promising verdict after Saturday’s game.

"It's difficult to say how serious it is, but it’s always serious if a player goes out in the first half," Slot said. "Not because I didn't like him, but because he asked for it himself. He didn’t ask for it because he was tired, he asked for it because he felt something.

"That's first of all not a good sign, but it is always difficult so close after the game to tell you exactly what it is. Let’s wait and see. I would be surprised if we will see him playing for the England national team this week, but hopefully he can."

According to The Athletic though, Liverpool is confident their vice-captain won’t face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, having limited the damage by bringing him off early against Villa. It’s also claimed that Alexander-Arnold has been playing with painkilling injections after picking up a side strain on England duty against Finland last month.

Possible return date: Unknown.

Alisson Becker

Alisson is hopefully nearing a comeback after picking up a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace last month, although how soon after the international break he will return is still up in the air. He was spotted at Anfield on Saturday though, which might be a good sign for the Reds.

Slot confirmed after that game that the Brazilian will be restored as his No.1 when he does return, despite Caoimhin Kelleher’s fine form while deputizing. “First of all, Alisson needs to become fit. I have always been quite clear, that’s always been the position of Alisson,” Slot said.

“He is and will be our first goalkeeper if he is fit. But first he needs to be fit.

“But Caoimh has done outstanding, last season and this season again as well but the moment Alisson is fit, he will be our first goalkeeper.”

Possible return date: Southampton (A), November 24

Harvey Elliott

Elliott has shown some promising signs that he is nearing full fitness again after fracturing his foot while on England U21 duty. The 21-year-old has been out of action since the 3-0 win at Manchester United in September.

He has been seen back out on the grass at the AXA Training Centre, although he hasn’t yet been able to return to first-team training. Elliott should hopefully be back soon after the international break, although how soon is still unknown.

Possible return date: Unknown.

Federico Chiesa

Slot confirmed on Friday that Chiesa is hoped to return to training during the international break, with the Italian having missed Liverpool’s last nine games.

His fitness since making the move from Juventus in the summer has become a concern, with Slot having admitted he has been struggling to get up to speed with his new teammates. Chiesa’s issues have also been causing a stir back in Italy, with the 27-year-old once again missing out on a place in Luciano Spalletti’s squad.

"It is difficult for a player who missed out on pre-season and playing pre-season games and training sessions,” Slot said. “You have to give a player more time to get to the intensity levels.

"It is a difficult balance to get him where we want but we are trying and he is trying everything he can to get to these levels.”

Possible return date: Southampton (A), November 24

Diogo Jota

Jota is another expected to make his return after the international break, with Slot confirming last week that the Portuguese international should be back ‘one or two weeks’ after this period. That does mean though he could still be missing for the crucial games against Real Madrid and Manchester City.

The 27-year-old has been out with bruised ribs since Liverpool’s win over Chelsea last month. Tosin Adaraiboyo’s clumsy challenge has left the Reds short on options in attack over recent weeks, although it hasn’t affected Liverpool’s form.

Jota has generally been Slot’s first-choice No.9 this season, although Darwin Nunez’s recent performances will have put him firmly back in contention, while Luis Diaz has also offered an alternative solution in the role.

Possible return date: Newcastle United (A), December 4