Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup hopes have been boosted slightly after it was confirmed Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold WILL miss Sunday’s Wembley showpiece.
The right-back, who has been a star man for the Reds this term, limped out of his side’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek with a suspected ankle issue. Now, Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed Alexander-Arnold is facing a race against time to play again towards the end of the season – and suggested a central midfielder, in Curtis Jones, may be the man to replace him.
“Maybe Curtis [Jones] can play [right-back],” the Dutchman said at his pre-match press conference. “Trent is not available, he won’t be there, he is still to be assessed but we do expect him back before for the season’s end.”
Centre-back Ibrahima Konate limped out of the tie in extra time but is expected to be passed fit for Sunday’s game. However, other defenders who could fill in at right-back are sidelined.
Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are both still on the treatment table, which could mean it is Jones or Jarell Quansah tasked with stopping Newcastle’s left-sided attacker. Jones has been used on the right of Liverpool’s defence in the past, with Jurgen Klopp opting for that tactic against Leicester City in 2023.
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As for who will be playing on the left of Newcastle’s front three, it looks likely to be Harvey Barnes. The former Leicester man returned to the starting XI against West Ham United earlier this week, helping himself to the game-winning assist for Bruno Guimaraes.
Quizzed on his own team selection on Friday morning, Eddie Howe said: “Genuinely, whenever I look at a team selection for any game, there’s always decisions to make. That’ll be no different for this game because you’re always looking at the opposition and your own strengths and trying to figure out what players need to go up against certain players.
“So that’s what we’ve done. We don’t have a huge pool of players to select from – that’s pretty obvious. We have a very tight squad and in some senses that can help you in different moments and that can also be a negative.”
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arne-slot-drops-shock-newcastle-31198849
