Alexander-Arnold out of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle in a major blow to Liverpool, Arne Slot has confirmed.

The 26-year-old right-back was forced off in the second half of Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after landing awkwardly and sustaining an ankle injury.

Slot admitted post-match that he would be “surprised” if Alexander-Arnold was fit for the final, and has now confirmed that the defender will not feature at Wembley, but hopes he will return before the end of the season.

“Trent is indeed not available, but he is still to be assessed for how long it will take,” Slot said. “We do expect him back before the end of the season.”

His injury has also ruled him out of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, announced today, denying him a place in the Three Lions’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley later this month.

However, Liverpool duo Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones have been selected, marking a significant milestone in their careers.With Alexander-Arnold sidelined and Liverpool facing a right-back shortage, Quansah is among the candidates to fill in against Newcastle. If selected, it would cap off an incredible weekend for the 21-year-old, who has earned his first senior England call-up under Tuchel.Slot praised Quansah’s development and mentality, highlighting his growth from a promising talent even though he has experienced a few setback along the way“It says a lot about his mentality,” Slot said. “Last season, everyone saw what a talent he is. Then this season started with him playing, and I made the decision to take him off, as we all know, against Ipswich.”

“Ibou [Ibrahima Konate] and Virgil [van Dijk] are such a strong combination, so he didn’t play a lot, but every time he was called upon, he performed. Maybe at the start, he had some struggles, but recently, he has shown he’s no longer just a talent.

“When setbacks come, it’s about how you respond, and I think his recent performances show that he has outgrown the ‘talent’ tag. That’s probably what Thomas Tuchel saw as well by calling him up for England.”Alexander-Arnold’s absence leaves Liverpool short of natural options at right-back, with Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez both recovering from injuries. Slot has hinted at several possible solutions, including playing Wataru Endo or even midfielder Curtis Jones in an unfamiliar defensive role.“I think maybe even Curtis could play there,” Slot added. “Or you could also play with a left-footed defender on the right side, which is what Newcastle are doing but on the opposite side.”Liverpool have a history of overcoming adversity in cup finals. Last season, they lifted the Carabao Cup despite an injury-hit squad, beating Chelsea in extra time thanks to a Virgil van Dijk extra-time goal. They will need a similar show of resilience to defend their title at Wembley.While Liverpool remain hopeful that Alexander-Arnold will return before the season ends, his injury adds further uncertainty to his future. The right-back is in the final months of his contract, and with Real Madrid reportedly interested, there is a chance he has already played his last game for the club.For now, Liverpool’s focus is on the Carabao Cup final, but they will have to do it without one of their most influential players.