Blow for Liverpool as Trent Alexander Arnold to miss Carabao Final

Liverpool FC will be without Trent Alexander Arnold for Sunday's Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle United, the club has announced.

Head coach Arne Slot however remains optimistic about Ibrahima Konate’s chances of playing in the final while the Reds expect Alexander-Arnold to return before the end of the season, the club said on its official website.

Konate was substituted during extra-time of the Reds’ Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in midweek but it seems he will be available for the showdown with Newcastle at Wembley Stadium.

Alexander-Arnold was also forced off in the second half of the same clash due to injury.

Slot’s team face Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday and, during his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, the head coach was asked for an update on the duo and whether Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo are his options at right-back, with Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also sidelined.

He said: “I think maybe even Curtis [Jones] can play there. And you can also play as a left-footed defender on the right side, which is what Newcastle do at the moment but on the opposite [side].

“So, Trent is indeed not available. He will not be there at the final. But he is still to be assessed for how long it’s going to take but we do expect him back at the end of the season."

“What about Ibou Konate? 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,” said Slot.

Liverpool will be looking to make it two consecutive Carabao Cup titles in a row after defeating Chelsea in the 2024 final.