Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold against Newcastle United this weekend. And Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are also missing, giving Arne Slot a headache at full-back.
But the Reds boss has claimed that he has FOUR options who could fill in there ahead of the trip to Wembley. Jarell Quansah would be the favorite to play the role but Liverpool could also go with someone else, with Wataru Endo also suggested as an alternative
“Yeah. I think maybe Curtis [Jones] could play there,” Slot said during his pre-match press conference. “Or you can play with a left-sided defender on the right, which is what Newcastle does but the opposite way round.”
Quansah would be the obvious pick but Liverpool could also go with either Andy Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas. Jones played right-back once under Jurgen Klopp but only in an earlier round of the Carabao Cup at Anfield against Leicester City.
“Everyone who is from the bench and who doesn’t start has to try and make an impact,” Virgil van Dijk told reporters at Anfield when asked specifically about Quansah stepping in at right-back.
“Hopefully it is something minor [for Alexander-Arnold] but if not, if Jarell will play right-back then he has to do it in the best way possible. He showed [vs PSG] and he showed already in the last couple of weeks that he can do it.
(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“Right now [after losing to PSG] it is bitter disappointment in our heads because we are out of the competition but I am really looking forward [to the Carabao Cup final]. We need our fans to be there with us and I have no doubts they will be there as well.”
Liverpool.com says: Quansah struggled at right-back at St James’ Park in this fixture a few weeks ago but without Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall flying at him down that side of the field, this will be a completely different game. He is the best option to play the position for this match and he looked good when he came on against PSG.
Other than that, there are not really any decisions to be made by Slot. The Liverpool boss will need to decide between Caoimhin Kelleher and Alisson Becker and also determine whether or not Cody Gakpo is ready to start. Aside from that, pretty much every position on the field is near-certain, with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah nailed on to start.
