'He shows his commitment' - Arne Slot claims Trent Alexander-Arnold's head has NOT been turned by Real Madrid as out-of-contract star prepares for Liverpool return

Rumours that Alexander-Arnold has agreed to join Real Madrid at the end of the season have gained pace over the past few weeks. The 26-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and unlike Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk, he has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal. However, his manager has suggested that dialogue between player and club remains open, but the conversations will continue to happen behind closed doors.

Slot used his press conference to protect the player, saying he remains fully committed to Liverpool and has worked incredibly hard to get back to fitness after an ankle injury. The Dutchman suggested Alexander-Arnold will be part of the squad for Liverpool's trip to Leicester City on Saturday, but he isn't ready to start.

Slot responded to a question Alexander-Arnold's contract situation: "I think you would be surprised now if I answered differently than my answers for the whole season.

"It’s nice that we have already done two announcements and we can talk about that for hours but if you want to talk for hours with me about Trent then it’s, for hours, the same answer.

"We don’t talk about these things as long as they are not done yet and they aren’t so that’s why we don’t talk in public about his situation.

"Trent is coming back from an injury and trained with us yesterday. Every time he plays with us or trains with us he shows his commitment, he has worked so hard to be back already and the moment he’s on the pitch he shows me what a great football player he is and how much he’s involved in us trying to achieve our goals this season.

"He’s worked so hard during the whole season and now in his rehab to be back with the team again."

On Alexander-Arnold's injury situation, he said: "Not to start but if today and tomorrow things go well, he might be on the bench but definitely not to start because he’s been out for five weeks and his first session with the team was Wednesday, he did parts of the team session."

If Alexander-Arnold does not return against Leicester, he could do so when Tottenham Hotspur visit Anfield next Sunday.