Alexander-Arnold Returns but Liverpool Weigh Options for Final Games | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Title March Faces Late Injury Hurdles

Countdown to Glory

Liverpool stand poised on the brink of history. One point at Anfield against Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday will confirm their return to the Premier League summit for the first time since 2020. Arsenal’s late slip at Selhurst Park — a 2-2 draw snatched by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 89th-minute equaliser — rendered Mikel Arteta’s title bid little more than a footnote.

The significance is not lost on the red half of Merseyside. It’s not just about silverware; it’s about reclaiming identity after a period of recalibration. With Arne Slot’s side 12 points clear, a draw is enough. A win would be emphatic. But as with any story worth telling, the final chapter holds a twist — injuries.

Vice-Captain’s Role Under the Microscope

Trent Alexander-Arnold made his long-awaited return against Leicester City, reintroducing balance and vision on the right. Yet questions remain. Slot must decide whether to stick with Conor Bradley for the run-in — a choice that could echo far beyond this season.

Bradley has impressed in Alexander-Arnold’s absence, and if he keeps his place in the biggest game of all, it might signal a shift in hierarchy. Rotation or transition? Slot’s selection may hint at Liverpool’s future as much as its present.

Tottenham’s Priorities Elsewhere

Ange Postecoglou’s focus lies less on domestic disruption and more on European opportunity. Tottenham’s Europa League semi-final against FK Bodø/Glimt has taken precedence. A dismal away record — 15 winless on the road — suggests Anfield might be one hurdle too many.

Photo: IMAGO

Yet Spurs arrive with players returning to fitness, and their recent setbacks at the City Ground — a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest — included precautionary substitutions rather than fresh injuries. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were both withdrawn early, with Postecoglou admitting it was with Sunday in mind.

Injury Clouds on Both Sides

Still, Tottenham face lingering doubts. Captain Heung-Min Son is the biggest concern. A chronic foot problem, worsened over weeks, has sidelined him indefinitely. The issue flared during the Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt and has kept him out of recent fixtures, including the Nottingham Forest loss.

Radu Dragusin’s campaign is definitively over following an ACL rupture in February. The Romanian has begun rehabilitation but won’t feature again this term.

Liverpool’s sole confirmed absentee is Joe Gomez. A hamstring aggravation sustained in February’s FA Cup loss to Plymouth Argyle led to surgery. Slot hopes for a mid-May return — perhaps just in time to lift the trophy, if not to earn it on the pitch.