Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss Liverpool’s EFL Cup final against Newcastle United with an ankle injury but could return before the end of the season.
Alexander-Arnold limped off in the second half of Liverpool’s loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday, with the Reds ultimately going out on penalties.
Jarell Quansah, who was named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad on Friday, replaced him at the Parc des Princes and could start at Wembley on Sunday.
However, Alexander-Arnold’s injury leaves Liverpool without a recognised centre-back as Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are also still recovering from problems.
“Trent is not available,” head coach Arne Slot confirmed in a news conference on Friday.
“He will not be there at the final. He’s still to be assessed for how long it’s going to take, but we do expect him back before the end of the season.”
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Alexander-Arnold is one of three Liverpool players out of contract at the end of this season, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian has reached new heights in 2024-25; he has 44 Premier League goal involvements this term (27 goals, 17 assists), the joint-most ever recorded by a player in a 38-game campaign.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk has played every minute of the Premier League this season (2,610), the only player in the squad to do so.
Van Dijk admitted after Liverpool’s defeat to PSG that he did not know whether he would still be at the club next season, but Slot insisted he would continue planning for next season with the 33-year-old in mind.
“The only thing I know is that I want Virgil to be here next season, and all the rest is talks about contracts and that’s not what I do over here,” he said.
“It doesn’t [affect planning], not for me.”
Liverpool are participating in their 15th EFL Cup final, five more than any other side, while they have won the trophy 10 times, two more than anyone else.
The Reds have won 18 domestic English cup trophies (10 EFL Cups, eight FA Cups) and could equal Manchester United’s haul of 19 if they are victorious in this match, with the Red Devils winning 13 FA Cups and six EFL Cups.
Slot is taking charge of his first final with Liverpool but is expecting a tough test from Newcastle on Sunday.
“We’re really looking forward to playing in a final again, because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams involved in every cup competition,” he added.
“We’re looking forward to being part of it and if you are part of it, of course, you want to try to win it, but of course, that’s what Newcastle want as well.”
