Alexanderarnold out of cup final due to knee injury
Liverpool defender and playmaker Trent Alexander-arnold has been ruled out of this month’s Carabao Cup final by a knee injury.
The right-back suffered a recurrence of the problem against Burnley on Saturday, and a series of scans this week has revealed he will require a period of recovery.
The Wembley clash with Chelsea on Sunday week will come too soon, but Liverpool’s vice-captain will be aiming to be fit for the Premier League game at Nottingham Forest in early March, and is optimistic he will be ready for the visit of Manchester City to Anfield a week later – a potentially defining fixture in the title race.
Alexander-arnold aggravated the injury after making a comeback as a substitute against Chelsea on Jan 31 and then starting against Arsenal and Burnley. The news represents a major blow to Jurgen Klopp’s ambitions of maintaining the club’s quadruple bid by claiming the season’s first silverware.
Alexander-arnold has been arguably Liverpool’s player of the season, with his hybrid role critical to the team’s revival to be challenging for four trophies.
In his absence, Klopp can at least turn to Joe Gomez, while Northern Ireland youngster Conor Bradley returned to training on Tuesday after a period of compassionate leave. Both are in contention to face Brentford on Saturday.
Liverpool are also buoyed by the return of Mohamed Salah, who has resumed training after the hamstring issue suffered at the Africa Cup of Nations. But Dominik Szoboszlai is another serious doubt for the cup final as he undergoes treatment for a hamstring issue.
It is anticipated Alexanderarnold will have fully recovered in time to be involved in England’s internationals at the end of next month against Brazil and Belgium.