Liverpool have confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United, although the club remains hopeful he will return before the end of the season.
The right-back sustained an injury during Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week, adding to the club’s defensive woes ahead of the Wembley showdown. Head coach Arne Slot provided an update on Alexander-Arnold’s condition during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“Trent is indeed not available. He will not be there for the final,” Slot said. “But he is still to be assessed for how long it’s going to take, though we do expect him back by the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Slot remains optimistic about Ibrahima Konate’s chances of featuring in the final. The French defender was substituted during extra time of the PSG match, but Slot revealed that Konate could still make the squad for the game against Newcastle.
“We didn’t train yesterday, we were on a day off, and the day before was recovery, so I expect him to train with us today, but let’s see how he is,” Slot explained.
With Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley both sidelined, Slot hinted at potential alternatives for the right-back position, mentioning Jarell Quansah, Wataru Endo, and even Curtis Jones as possible options.
Liverpool will be aiming to secure their first trophy of the season when they take on Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday.
