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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has opened up on why he has substituted club vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold off three consecutive times in the Premier League this season.
Alexander-Arnold, who is in the final 10 months of his current contract, has started all three of the Reds' league games this season. However, he has been replaced by young right-back Conor Bradley in all matches.
During a recent pre-match press conference, Slot was asked to shed light on why Alexander-Arnold has yet to play a full 90 minutes in a match this campaign. He replied (h/t Liverpool Echo):
"He proved he could 90 but maybe before that he became tired against Ipswich but two games afterwards... so, he is ready to play 90. Sometimes it's about having someone like Bradley who can do the job well too. I have a whole team to manage and prepare for the season so it is also important for Conor to get his minutes and whoever comes on for Mo or anyone else. I prepare the whole squad."
Last campaign, Alexander-Arnold started 29 of his 37 appearances across all competitions. The 25-year-old scored three goals and laid out nine assists for his boyhood club under former boss Jurgen Klopp.
On the other hand, Bradley relished a breakout campaign for Liverpool last time around. The 21-year-old made the most of Alexander-Arnold's knee injury as he registered one goal and six assists in 23 games across competitions, including 17 starts, for his club.
Alan Shearer offers prediction for upcoming Liverpool-Nottingham Forest league match
In his column for Metro, England legend Alan Shearer backed Liverpool to beat Nottingham Forest in their Premier League clash at Anfield on Saturday (September 14). He wrote:
"It will be too much for Nottingham Forest at Anfield. I think they may try and shut up shop but with the form Liverpool are in, the way they're playing and the confidence they'll have, they'll have too much for Forest. It wouldn't surprise me at all if [the Reds] were to win and keep a clean sheet again, so I will go for a home win in what will be a superb start to the season for Arne Slot."
The Reds, who finished third last season, are currently second in the 2024-25 Premier League table with nine points from three games.
Nottingham Forest, who finished 17th last season, are in ninth place in the domestic standings with five points from three matches so far.
