Liverpool stars Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate were both forced off with injuries during Tuesday’s Champions League defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain
Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits that he’d be ‘surprised’ if Trent Alexander-Arnold is fit for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final – but is more optimistic about Ibrahima Konate.
Both defenders had to come off injured during the Reds’ second-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Liverpool lost 4-1 in a penalty shootout after PSG had levelled the tie on aggregate by claiming a 1-0 win in normal time.
Alexander-Arnold limped off in the 73rd minute after appearing to jar a knee while Konate was unable to complete the duration of extra-time at Anfield. Liverpool could now be without two of their starting defenders when they bid to win their first trophy of the season against Newcastle at Wembley.
Asked to provide an update following Tuesday’s Champions League exit, Slot revealed: “I have to ask but for me Ibou was more that he was tired than it was an injury. With Trent, he had to come off. That’s never a good sign.
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“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.”
On any physical ‘cost’ his team could suffer from playing 120 minutes five days before the final, the Liverpool manager added: “The good thing is we play a final on Sunday, so mentally that’s probably the best you can ask for, because this is what we are playing football for: to play finals.
“And then there are two-and-a-half weeks in between before we start the season again. And if we can play nine times with this intensity – and the ones we play at home with the same intensity from the fans as well – then I am really looking forward to the end of the season.”
Can Liverpool win without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Jarell Quansah, 22, is likely to be Alexander-Arnold’s replacement given that Slot won’t be able to call on his two right-back alternatives in Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez due to their own injuries. Both Quansah and Gomez would be candidates to replace Konate at centre-back, though, so the Reds will be desperate to have him available.
Newcastle have their own issues, with forward Anthony Gordon suspended and Eddie Howe unable to call on defenders Sven Botman or Lewis Hall through injury. Star striker Alexander Isak is expected to be available to start, with doubts over his fitness having subsided.
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