Alexander-Arnold to miss Carabao Cup final as defender suffers new injury blow

14 February 2024 , 15:30

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Trent Alexander-Arnold has suffered a fresh injury (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the Carabao Cup final with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to miss the clash with Chelsea.

The Reds defender aggravated a knee injury he had just returned from in the 3-1 win over Burnley at the weekend. Alexander-Arnold went off at half-time of the Premier League victory citing a pain in the same knee he had recently injured.

The Kop full-back suffered a minor tear of a lateral knee ligament in his side's FA Cup win at Arsenal back in January. It left him out for three games but he returned as a substitute in their fourth-round win in the same competition against Norwich.

Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold were keen for the player to return for the big Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal. Alexander-Arnold came off the bench in the 4-1 win over the Blues and then played 58 minutes in the 3-1 defeat against the Gunners.

Now there's a feeling he may have returned too soon as he is set for another spell on the sidelines after the injury was exacerbated. There is no set return date for Alexander-Arnold but there’s no chance he will be fit for the trip to Wembley on February 25, which is a week on Sunday.

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Liverpool then play Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round before league clashes with Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, which he is now a doubt for too. Alexander-Arnold is hoping to return for those games and England’s upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium next month.

But there will be caution over his rehabilitation given he has already suffered a setback. Conor Bradley, who deputised impressively in Alexander-Arnold’s absence, has returned to training this week after he had time off following the death of his father.

Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for the Carabao Cup final (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson is also fit again which gives Jurgen Klopp the option of switching Joe Gomez to the right after he had filled in for the Scot with Kostas Tsimikas also out.

Dominik Szoboszlai is another doubt for the final as he recovers from a hamstring injury but Mo Salah has returned to training this week so should be fit for the Chelsea clash.

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Chris McKenna