Trent injury blow for Klopp

LIVERPOOL defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been sidelined for up to a month with a knee injury, adding to Jurgen Klopp’s defensive worries.

The England full-back was hurt in the warm-up before his side’s 1-0 win over Brighton on Saturday. He was able to play after medical attention but tests have since shown damage to knee ligaments.

The 20-year-old will miss home games with Crystal Palace and Leicester, plus the visit to West Ham, and faces a race against time to be available for the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich on February 19.

Klopp is now without two of his first-choice back four. Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren are injured, although both are making progress. Joel Matip made a timely return to the squad last weekend and is in line to start this weekend. Klopp said after the victory at Brighton that he hoped Alexander-Arnold’s injury was minor.

“It was the last situation in the warm-up, I think he stepped on the ball. Immediately Trent was on the ground. He’s a hard boy, so that’s not a good sign,” Klopp said.

“The doctor came and said it was pretty painful. He made the sprints but I didn’t like the way he made them. On the way to the dressing room, he said the pain had gone.”

Klopp will have to reassess his options. Midfielder Fabinho filled in impressively at centre-back at the weekend and James Milner is the most likely deputy at right-back.

Liverpool have a slight concern over midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who is rated doubtful for this weekend with his own knee issue. (© Daily Telegraph, London)