Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold back from hamstring injury

Posted April 01, 2022 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, left, and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium in London, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton) The Associated Press

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold has recovered quickly from a hamstring injury and could play Saturday against Watford.

The England international's return is a big boost for Liverpool ahead of a Champions League quarterfinal match at Benfica on Tuesday and a Premier League showdown with Manchester City the following Sunday.

But first is relegation-threatened Watford at Anfield.

'œIt will be tight for tomorrow but it's possible,'ť Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Friday.

The 23-year-old Alexander-Arnold was originally projected to miss at least two weeks, which had raised concerns about his availability for the April 10 game at City. Liverpool trails league-leader City by one point.

Alexander-Arnold's injury kept him out of the England squad for two friendlies but he was expected to rejoin full team training at Liverpool on Friday.

'œPhysically he should be fine. Now I have to make the decision about rhythm and these kinds of things,'ť Klopp said.

The German coach also said top scorer Mohamed Salah will rebound from Egypt's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Egypt lost to Senegal on penalties Tuesday after Sadio ManÃ© converted the winner.

Salah was targeted by laser pointers before missing his kick in the shootout.

'œI'm obviously really happy for Sadio that he could make it and I'm obviously very disappointed and feel (for) Mo,'ť Klopp said. 'œI don't think that the situation around with the penalty and the laser(s) was particularly cool. That's clear as well. So, I feel for him, but I'm happy for Sadio as well. That's football.

'œSenegal is probably in the moment the best team in Africa,'ť he added. 'œEgypt did really well. I'm not sure they can see it like this exactly but my point of view is they should.'ť

Senegal's victory was similar to the African Cup of Nations final when ManÃ© clinched a first major title for his country by also scoring the winning penalty in a shootout against the Egyptians.

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Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, is challenged by Senegal's Sadio Mane during the World Cup 2022 - Africa playoff soccer match between Senegal and Egypt at at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Dakar, Senegal, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Stefan Kleinowitz) The Associated Press

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, reacts after failing to score his penalty kick against Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy during the World Cup 2022 - Africa playoff soccer match between Senegal and Egypt at at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Dakar, Senegal, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Stefan Kleinowitz) The Associated Press

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