Arsenal handed focused Alexis boost ahead of Liverpool trip

Man U aim for hat-trick of wins to start season

LONDON, Aug 24, (RTRS): Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is fit to face Liverpool on Sunday and is focused on giving “absolutely everything” for the team despite uncertainty over the striker’s future at the club, manager Arsene Wenger has said.

The Chilean, Arsenal’s top scorer with 24 league goals last season, has attracted plenty of interest from rival clubs as he enters the final year of his contract and missed the first two Premier League games of the season with an abdominal strain.

“Sanchez has worked hard to be back and available again,” Wenger told a news conference on Thursday. “Alexis works very hard, he’s very focused and gives absolutely everything.

“He looks ready, he has not played for long time so I will have to decide what I do with him. (He could start) but we have to make that decision. We play on Sunday and he looks in good shape.”

French media have linked Sanchez with a move to Paris St Germain, while British media have reported that Manchester City are also interested in reuniting the 28-year-old with their manager Pep Guardiola, whom he played for at Barcelona.

Wenger said Sanchez had not been distracted by the transfer speculation and did not rule out the possibility of the Chilean committing to fresh terms.

“I don’t think he’s too much disturbed by all the noise, players at that level are used to it now,” the manager added. “He is very focused, very happy and the fact he goes into the last year of his contract doesn’t mean we can’t extend it.”

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another player with less than a year of his deal to run and Wenger said he wanted the 24-year-old to stay at the club.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (left), challenges for the ball with Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric during the Champions League qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Hoffenheim at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England on Aug 23. (AP)

Liverpool’s manager Juergen Klopp smiles as he walks on the pitch during the warm up ahead of the Champions League qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Hoffenheim at Anfield stadium in Liverpool,

England on Aug 23. (AP)