Liverpool boss Arne Slot remains tight-lipped on Alexander-Arnold's future

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has declined to comment on the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold, with growing expectations that the Reds’ vice-captain will join Real Madrid when his contract expires.

During the international break, reports from Spain suggested that Real Madrid are confident in securing a deal for Alexander-Arnold.

Although nothing has been officially confirmed, the prevailing sentiment is that the 25-year-old full-back will make the move to the Bernabeu.

Should the transfer materialise, Alexander-Arnold would become the latest high-profile player to join Los Blancos on a free transfer.

At Madrid, he would join a star-studded lineup, including Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.

The latter, a close friend of Alexander-Arnold from their time with the England national team, could play a key role in helping his compatriot settle in at the Spanish capital.

“His situation is unfortunately that he is injured,” Slot said during his pre-Everton press conference.

“Otherwise people would have spoken that he had one or two good performances for England.

“He is fully focused on his recovery and for the rest, for eight months it went up and down with talks about him, Virgil [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah].”

“It is a situation that has been here for eight or nine months now. It doesn’t affect us at all.”

Alexander-Arnold’s absence from the team has offered a glimpse of life without the right-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to leave Liverpool to join Real Madrid

However, manager Slot has also been without his primary backup, Conor Bradley.

The Northern Ireland international is back in training, and Arne Slot suggested that Bradley could be involved on Wednesday night.

“Conor is training with us again but we have to make a decision on whether he’s playing and if playing means coming in or starting,” the Dutchman added.

“That’s something I keep for myself.

“But he’s only had a few sessions after being out for quite long with a recurring injury, so we have to make a smart decision with that as well.”