Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold to miss Carabao Cup final

By SABC Sport
14th March 2025

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of this weekend's Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United due to injury but could return before the end of the season.

Alexander-Arnold was forced off during the second half of Liverpool's Champions League round-of-16 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, with the Premier League leaders eventually exiting the competition on penalties. He was replaced by Jarell Quansah, who is now expected to start at Wembley and has been named to Thomas Tuchel's first England squad on Friday.

"Trent is not available," Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot confirmed in a press conference on Friday. "He will not be at the final. He's still to be assessed, but we expect him to return before the end of the season."

Centre-back Ibrahima Konate is also set to be evaluated after being substituted in extra-time against PSG.

Looking ahead to the final, Slot expressed his excitement: "We're really looking forward to playing in a final again because you cannot take a final for granted, especially in this country with so many good teams in every cup competition. We're eager to be part of it, and of course, when you're in a final, you want to win it. But Newcastle wants that as well."

Slot also addressed the uncertainty surrounding captain Virgil van Dijk's future at Anfield. Van Dijk, along with Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, is out of contract at the end of the season and is now free to discuss pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs.

Following Liverpool's Champions League exit, the 33-year-old Van Dijk revealed that nothing had been decided about his future. "I don't even know myself," Van Dijk admitted. "Everyone knows there are some conversations behind the scenes, but that's about it. At the moment, I don't know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do, they are lying."

Slot, however, insisted that the uncertainty over Van Dijk's contract situation would not affect his planning for next season. "The only thing I know is that I want Virgil to be here next season. The rest is all about contract talks, and that's not my responsibility," Slot said. "It doesn't affect my planning."