The question of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future continues to hang over Liverpool but he returned from injury on Sunday with a bang, scoring the winner at Leicester
He hung his shirt on the corner flag in front of the Liverpool fans. The question still remains if Trent Alexander-Arnold will be wearing it next season.
It was not a kiss of the badge but there was some serious emotion in the celebration of his 76th-minute. The right-back, just five minutes after emerging from the bench on his return from injury, lashed the ball home with his left boot after a scramble in the area saw the Reds hit the woodwork twice.
This was his first appearance since reports emerged that he would be heading to Real Madrid this summer. There still has been no confirmation from the player that is definitely the case. Was there a message in the celebration? Who knows but it certainly was a release of something from the right-back.
He raced towards the away fans in the corner of the King Power Stadium, whipped off his shirt and did a knee slide before letting out a roar.
Maybe it was just the elation of moving the Reds three points closer to the Premier League title. His second for the club but we wait to see if it is his last.
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Van Dijk pushed him towards the away end at full-time to take the acclaim but can he be convinced to stay?
What isn’t in doubt is Liverpool being Premier League champions. The champagne remains on ice for now. But they are one step closer to being champions, as Leicester’s fate was sealed. The Foxes will return to the Championship.
Both have felt inevitable for weeks now. Liverpool just have to wait a little longer.
Arsenal’s win over Ipswich earlier in the day meant this wouldn’t be a title-winning party for the Reds. But if the Gunners lose against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, then Arne Slot’s men will be crowned champions while they watch on TV.
Failing that, should they beat Tottenham next weekend then it will be title No.20 heading to Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold’s goal, after Mo Salah had hit the post for the second time in the game and Diogo Jota cracked the woodwork, means they’re so close. That moment brought drama to a game that was lacking it.
Maybe it was the Gunners’ result or the fact the mood around the King Power Stadium was a little flat considering they know what’s coming, but it wasn’t much of a spectacle in the first-half.
It is nine years since the Foxes won the Premier League title. They rightly remind everyone with some nice video montages before kick-off. But this is now their second relegation in three years and there’s growing anger at the club owners. There was even a banner flown from a plane above the stadium calling for the board to be sacked.
It is likely to only be Ruud van Nistelrooy who loses his job this summer. He has struggled to get a tune out of the Foxes since he took charge in November.
There was a banner in the away end for Virgil van Dijk, who signed his new contract last week, but it was his fellow renewer in Salah who almost opened the scoring early on. Salah hit both posts. It would be the first of a number of chances for the Egyptian.
Leicester also hit the woodwork early on, Wilfred Ndidi’s shot cracked the upright after good work from Stephy Mavididi.
Salah was smiling when he turned Kostas Tsimikas’ cross over from close range. Then Leicester scored but it was was ruled out for a foul on Reds keeper Alisson by Patson Daka before Conor Coady had put it in. The closest they’ve come here to seeing a home goal in the Premier League since December.
Alexander-Arnold then came on and got the winner with his first ever goal with his left foot.
The away fans were already singing about the Scouser in their team before he scored and again after. Among all the chants about winning the league, of course.
Liverpool one step closer, the champagne corks will be popping soon.
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