Liverpool suffered a new injury scare over Harvey Elliott during their Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle.
The midfielder was sent on with just over 15 minutes remaining of Sunday’s showpiece fixture at Wembley as Arne Slot’s below-par side desperately sought a route back into the game after efforts either side of half-time from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak left them 2-0 down.
Elliott had another impressive impact for Liverpool a little over two weeks after he came off the bench to score their dramatic late winner with his first touch in 47 seconds away at Paris Saint-Germain in the one-sided first leg of a Champions League last-16 tie, giving them more impetus moving forward and laying on a goal for fellow substitute Federico Chiesa in stoppage time that was initially flagged offside but then given after a lengthy VAR review to set up a grandstand finish.
It has led to increasing calls for the 21-year-old - who won the ball in midfield before playing a brilliant first-time through pass for Chiesa - to be given more game time in the weeks ahead as Liverpool look to respond from their double setback this week in the Champions League and Carabao Cup to seal a first Premier League title since 2020 with a 12-point buffer to closest rivals Arsenal with only nine matches left to play this term.
However, it remains to be seen if Elliott could now be facing a spell on the sidelines having been floored by a late challenge from Joelinton that led to a VAR check for potential violent conduct.
Though the former Fulham midfielder was able to see out the final seconds, he looked in considerable pain as he received treatment and was then helped off the pitch by Liverpool medical staff after the full-time whistle. Footage later emerged on social media of Elliott limping as he made his way out of Wembley.
Slot was not asked about Elliott’s injury after the game, with Liverpool now not in action again until they host rivals Everton in the latest Merseyside derby at Anfield in the Premier League on April 2.
An indication of his status should come with whether or not he remains in the England Under-21 squad, having been called up by head coach Lee Carsley earlier this week for an upcoming friendly double-header for the Young Lions against France and Portugal.
Liverpool were without Trent Alexander-Arnold against Newcastle after the England right-back suffered an ankle injury in the midweek second-leg penalty shootout loss to PSG, with Slot unsure when exactly he will be back but expecting it to be before the end of the season.
Jarell Quansah stepped in to start the Carabao Cup final with fellow defenders Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley also sidelined with respective hamstring issues, while young midfielder Tyler Morton is also out at present after shoulder surgery.
