The international break can be a lonely time for a Liverpool player carrying an injury.
While Jurgen Klopp and his staff enjoy a week off from the punishing schedule and the international contingent fly out for a change of scenery with their compatriots, those carrying knocks often remain in place at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby. Specially-tailored training plans are drawn up by the rehabilitation staff and physios as players get to work on their own individual sessions in an attempt to speed up the recovery process.
At the AXA Centre itself, the rehabilitation gyms have been intentionally designed to overlook the training pitches in an effort to provide extra motivation for those working towards a comeback as soon as possible. The idea is that players will work harder in the gyms if the next phase of their recovery process is staring them quite literally in the face.
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For Trent Alexander-Arnold, working to his own plan has been the case since pulling up with a hamstring injury before the international break. The right-back missed the 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final before the break after picking up the issue in the victory at Arsenal earlier that week.
But rather than a low-key week at the club's training base, Alexander-Arnold was granted permission to make a trip to Dubai to undergo his recovery at the world-famous Nad al Sheba Complex.
Liverpool have sent their players to the NAS Complex in the past with Virgil van Dijk, most notably, spending close to a couple of months out in the region as he underwent his early rehabilitation work after suffering a serious and long-term knee injury in October 2020.
Alexander-Arnold's hamstring issue, of course, is much less serious and the defender is understood to be targeting a return to action at the Etihad when Liverpool visit Manchester City on April 10. With a 13-day break in between the win over Forest and the meeting with Watford on April 2, Liverpool were happy to allow their right-back the chance for some warm-weather training out in Dubai.
This weekend's visit from Roy Hodgson's side and the Champions League trip to Benfica on April 5 will likely come too soon for the West Derby-born full-back, but the showdown with City later that week would be an opportune time for his return. With April set to be a defining month for Liverpool's hopes this term, rushing Alexander-Arnold back into the team before he is 100% could be counterproductive, though.
After all, even in this ludicrously talented squad, if there is one player they can ill-afford to be without for any length of time, it is their creative fulcrum.
Once again leading the way in terms of assists, the 23-year-old's tally of 11 is the highest in the Premier League and while an omission for the likes of Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker or Fabinho - to name just four - would be hugely detrimental for Klopp, there is no-one within the squad who is even close to providing a passing resemblance to Alexander-Arnold's unique skillset.
His absence from the 2-2 draw with City at Anfield back at the start of October was lamentable as Phil Foden gave a then 35-year-old midfielder in James Milner the run-around in the unfamiliar and unfavoured position at right-back.
Milner was perhaps fortunate not to receive a second yellow card in the second half as Foden turned in an outstanding performance in a pulsating draw at Anfield.
While Klopp has been able to find adequate reserves for most of his top stars, there is a reluctant acceptance that there is none for Alexander-Arnold within the Liverpool squad.
Milner's best role is in the centre of midfield while Joe Gomez, a player who Klopp admits has been unable to gain any real rhythm this season, is most comfortable when deployed at centre-back. Conor Bradley is a promising young Northern Ireland international but he has some way to go before he can provide legitimate competition for Liverpool's No.66 and Neco Williams is on loan at Fulham.
Such a conundrum then is perhaps why there is no pressure on Alexander-Arnold to rush himself back for either game against Watford or Benfica. Liverpool may realistically feel, even if it is only a private sentiment, that they can beat both sides without their first-choice right-back. But the clash at the Etihad next month is the Reds' biggest Premier League fixture in years.
Some sources believe a City return would still be something of a quick comeback from the current issue but with the best part of two weeks before the trip to Manchester, Alexander-Arnold will be afforded every opportunity of getting himself ready.
Klopp will provide an update on Friday in his pre-Watford press conference but it will be no surprise to see Alexander-Arnold held back for the big one on April 10.
