Liverpool faces a significant challenge ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, with key defender Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined due to an ankle injury. The 26-year-old defender sustained the injury during a Champions League match against Paris St-Germain, which ended in a penalty shootout favouring the French club.
This latest injury adds to Liverpool’s defensive troubles as they head into the Wembley showdown without a recognised right-back. Both potential replacements, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, are also out with injuries, leaving youngster Jarell Quansah likely to step into the critical role.
Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, confirmed the setback. “Trent will not be participating in the final,” Slot explained, adding that while the full extent of the injury is still under evaluation, the team is hopeful for his return before the season concludes.
Further complicating matters for Liverpool are the contract uncertainties surrounding Alexander-Arnold, who is set to be a free agent at season’s end. Speculation has been rife, with reports from the BBC in January suggesting interest from Real Madrid, though no formal statements have been issued regarding his future.
Adding to the uncertainty are the contract situations of star players Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both also nearing the end of their current terms. Van Dijk recently expressed his uncertainty about his future at Anfield, leaving fans and analysts pondering what could be next for these cornerstone players of the team.
As Liverpool prepares for the Carabao Cup final, the team must navigate these compounding challenges, making this one of their most testing finals in recent memory.
