Liverpool manager Arne Slot could be without a key player for the League Cup final against Newcastle on Sunday, with injuries against PSG on Tuesday giving the Dutchman an issue to deal with.
Defeat to PSG in the Champions League means that Liverpool will look to go all out to win a Premier League and League Cup double this season, which would still represent huge success in Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield.
They’ll likely have to do so without Trent Alexander-Arnold, however, with the right-back going off injured in th 73rd minute after falling awkwardly. Jarrel Quansah stepped in to replace him, and with Conor Bradley also on the sidelines the young defender looks set to start at Wembley on Sunday.
Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander Arnold
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock highlighted his concern over Alexander-Arnold’s injury, which Slot later confirmed while also highlighting the extent of Ibrahima Konate’s issue.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold is in trouble,” Warnock said via BBC Sport’s live blog. “He has hurt himself. He fell awkwardly. That is so sore, the way he rolled on his ankle.”
Slot later said in his post-match press conference: “I have to ask [about the extent of injuries] but for me Ibou was more that he was tired than it was an injury. With Trent, he had to come off. That’s never a good sign.
“And from what I heard from people that saw the images or how he got injured, that didn’t look very good. So I would be surprised if he is available for Sunday.”
Slot isn’t concerned about the fatigue his team might have suffered going 120 minutes against PSG on Tuesday before losing on penalties, however, highlighting how a trip to Wembley will help alleviate any issues his team might be facing.
“The good thing is we play a final on Sunday, so mentally that’s probably the best you can ask for, because this is what we are playing football for: to play finals,” Slot highlighted.
“And then there are two-and-a-half weeks in between before we start the season again. And if we can play nine times with this intensity – and the ones we play at home with the same intensity from the fans as well – then I am really looking forward to the end of the season.”
In FourFourTwo‘s view, losing Alexander-Arnold could be a huge blow for Liverpool. While Newcastle are missing Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes is still more than a sound replacement and will likely cause Quansah a lot of problems on a big Wembley pitch. Picking themselves up to go again is another aspect to consider, with the mental toil of being knocked out the Champions League an issue to overcome as well.
