Trent Alexander-Arnold has been out of action with a hamstring injury (Photo: Getty)
Trent Alexander-Arnold is aiming to be fit enough to play in Liverpool’s Premier League clash against West Ham on Sunday.
However, the defender will miss the Reds’ opening Europa League match against LASK on Thursday evening.
Alexander-Arnold has been on the sidelines since picking up a hamstring injury during the 3-0 win over Aston Villa earlier in September.
The injury forced him to withdraw from the England squad and made him miss Liverpool’s 3-1 victory at Wolves last Saturday, with Joe Gomez starting at right-back instead.
And he has not made the flight to Austria, with the 24-year-old not named in Jurgen Klopp’s 23-man squad for the clash at the Raiffeisen Arena, with Thiago Alcantara also missing out as he continues to recover from a groin issue.
Virgil van Dijk is back however, following his two-game suspension.
Prior to the Wolves win, Klopp said of Alexander-Arnold’s fitness: ‘It is not the worst hamstring injury but they barely heal in two weeks; this one didn’t . He is running already, we hope he can start ball work soon. We’ll see.’
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are playing in the Europa League for the first time since 2016 (Photo: Getty)
Well just over two weeks later, The Athletic report that Liverpool’s vice-captain is close to a return and is targeting a return to action at Anfield in what could be a crucial game against in form West Ham.
The Irons have lost just one of their opening five games of the season, at home against Manchester City, and recorded impressive 3-1 wins against Chelsea and Brighton.
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Though it is doubtful he will start, it is said that the club are hopeful Alexander-Arnold can be involved somehow though they do not intend to take any unnecessary risks with his fitness.
Following the West Ham match, Liverpool have tough league games against Tottenham and Brighton as well as a Carabao Cup and Europa League fixtures with Leicester and Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise.
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