Alexander-Arnold to Miss League Cup Final in Liverpool Injury Blow

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of Sunday’s League Cup final against Newcastle due to an ankle injury, dealing a significant blow to manager Arne Slot’s squad.

The 26-year-old right-back sustained the injury during the second half of Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on Tuesday. His absence leaves Liverpool without a recognised right-back, as both Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are still recovering from injuries.

“Trent is not available. He will not be there at the final,” Slot confirmed on Friday. “He is still to be assessed for how long it will take, but we do expect him back before the end of the season.”

Alexander-Arnold’s injury also sees him left out of England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March.

Slot is optimistic that Jarell Quansah can step up in Alexander-Arnold’s absence, having been impressed by the young defender’s resilience after losing his starting place earlier this season. The 22-year-old has since earned a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

“If being substituted at half-time is a setback, then almost every player has more than a few setbacks during their career,” Slot said. “He knows now he can fight his way back if people are suddenly not positive about him anymore.”

Defending League Cup champions Liverpool are aiming for their first trophy under Slot and are also leading the Premier League title race by 15 points.

Sunday’s final will mark Slot’s first experience at Wembley. “I haven’t been there before. It’s not only an iconic stadium for English people but also for Dutch people,” he said. “I’m really happy that after Sunday, Wembley is also on my list of stadiums that I have managed at.”

Following their Champions League disappointment, Slot believes the final is the ideal opportunity for Liverpool to bounce back. “It’s a great occasion. After losing against PSG, we are really looking forward to playing this final now. It’s always nice to play for a trophy and even better to win one.”