Liverpool are facing a potential defensive injury crisis heading into Sunday’s League Cup final against Newcastle United. The Reds were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night as they lost on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain after a gruelling 120 minutes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with a serious-looking ankle injury to rub salt in Liverpool’s wounds, while Ibrahima Konate also limped off in extra-time against the Parisians.
Arne Slot would later confirm he did not expect his vice-captain to be available for the trip to Wembley, meaning Alexander-Arnold will sit out his second-successive League Cup final through injury, but played down any fears about Konate.
READ MORE: Arne Slot must reconsider Liverpool stance when transfer window opens as worst nightmare unfolds
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk makes blunt admission on Liverpool future after talking to PSG bosses
“I have to ask but for me Ibou was more that he was tired than it was an injury,” Slot said at 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.”
He would later confirm on Wednesday that he expected Konate to be fit, but it was too early to offer 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 will offer a fresh injury update at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, scheduled to take place at the AXA Training Centre from 10am.
While Konate could well be passed fit, Alexander-Arnold’s expected absence hands Liverpool a blow at right-back with Slot set to be without four senior stars at Wembley.
Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are already sidelined because of hamstring injuries, with the England international a long-term absentee after undergoing surgery.
Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland international has been left out of their latest squad, with his international manager, Michael O’Neill, admitting his absence is a huge blow.
“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 if he will recover in time for the Merseyside derby at home to Everton on April 2.
Jarell Quansah is likely to start at right-back in Wembley in absence of Liverpool’s three right-back options.
Meanwhile, Tyler Morton is also a long-term absentee after previously undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury, but Cody Gakpo is back available after making his return following a knock against PSG.
