Liverpool are bracing themselves for a potential defensive injury crisis ahead of Sunday’s League Cup final against Newcastle United. The Reds were dealt a blow on Tuesday night when they were knocked out of the Champions League after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout following a gruelling 120-minute match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced to leave the pitch due to what appeared to be a serious ankle injury, adding to Liverpool’s woes, while Ibrahima Konate also hobbled off during extra-time against the Parisians. Arne Slot later revealed that he did not anticipate his vice-captain being fit for the Wembley trip, meaning Alexander-Arnold will miss his second consecutive League Cup final due to injury. However, he downplayed any concerns about Konate.
“I have to ask but for me Ibou was more that he was tired than it was an injury,” Slot said during his post-match press conference. “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.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
On Wednesday, he confirmed that he expected Konate to be fit, but it was too early to provide an update on Alexander-Arnold.
“Not on Trent because it is too early to say,” he told the club website. “With Ibou, we expected only it to be that he was tired or he had some cramps so we are hoping and expecting that he will be ready to play Sunday again.”
Slot is set to provide an injury update at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, scheduled for 10am at the AXA Training Centre. While Konate may be deemed fit, Alexander-Arnold’s likely absence deals Liverpool a significant blow at right-back, with Slot poised to be without four senior players at Wembley.
Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are already out with hamstring injuries, the former a long-term absentee following surgery. Northern Ireland international Bradley has been left out of his country’s latest squad, with his international manager Michael O’Neill lamenting his absence.
“When any of the younger players are out it is a big blow and Conor has been fantastic for us,” O’Neill said. “He was great in the Nations League and loves coming away to play.
“What I do see in him and other young players is their personality grows within the squad but they can only do that if they are available to come. Conor’s disappointed to be missing and being part of the squad and having the opportunity to play.
“He’s had to be patient at Liverpool at times this season in terms of minutes so he would have looked at this as an opportunity to play back to back games but unfortunately he picked up an injury.”
With Bradley ruled out of the international break, it remains to be seen whether he will recover in time for the Merseyside derby against Everton on April 2. Jarell Quansah is expected to fill in at right-back for Liverpool’s clash at Wembley, given the absence of their three regular options.
It’s a move that will intrigue Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe. Quansah, a centre-half by trade, was wanted by Newcastle in the summer as they looked to bolster their defensive ranks. With the transfer saga around Anthony Gordon and PSR biting, it had been proposed that a swap deal involving the two men and Newcastle receiving extra cash could have seen the move happen.
As it happened, both players stayed at their respective clubs and both signed new contracts. However, Newcastle could make a return bid for Quansah in the summer as they continue their hunt for a new centre-back.
In other news, Tyler Morton remains sidelined due to a long-term shoulder injury that required surgery. However, Cody Gakpo is back in contention after recovering from an injury sustained against PSG.
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