Arne Slot confirms Trent Alexander-Arnold is OUT of Carabao Cup final vs Newcastle
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been officially ruled out of Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Newcastle after injuring his ankle vs Paris Saint-Germain
by Dan Marsh · The MirrorLiverpool's worst fears have been confirmed with the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold will play no part in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.
The Reds right-back, 26, hurt his ankle on Tuesday night as Arne Slot's side crashed out of the Champions League on penalties after losing 1-0 on the night to Paris Saint-Germain.
It was feared that Alexander-Arnold may have suffered a serious injury after he appeared to twist his knee during a coming together with Vitinha. And while he is expected to play again this season, he will miss this weekend's final against Newcastle.
Slot confirmed the news in a press conference on Friday, saying: "Maybe Curtis [Jones] can play [right-back]. Trent is not available, he won't be there, he is still to be assessed but we do expect him back before for the season's end."
Alexander-Arnold was tellingly not included in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad, which was confirmed earlier on Friday morning, owing to his injury.
His unavailability will come as a big blow to both Tuchel and Alexander-Arnold given he had started to produce some of his best displays in an England shirt during Lee Carsley's interim reign at the helm.
While it remains to be seen who will deputise for Alexander-Arnold at Wembley on Sunday, Slot did talk up Jarell Quansah, who filled in at right-back in midweek.
The youngster did make the cut for Tuchel's first England squad, with Slot saying: "It says a lot about his mentality [England call].
I changed him v Ipswich and Virgil and Ibou [Konate] are such a strong combination, so every time he plays everyone can see he is a talent. He has had some setbacks and he has reacted and shown in recent performances, he has outgrown being called just a talent so that is what Tuchel has seen.
"He has done well for us in a position he is not used to, at right-back. He is strong, fast and comfortable on the ball. And he gives us something different on set-pieces too, you saw where he hit the post."
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