Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss Liverpool’s clash against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final due to the aggravation of an existing knee injury.
The England international suffered a small tear in lateral collateral ligament against Arsenal last month and was initially sidelined for three weeks.
No timescale is being put on the 25-year-old’s recovery due to it being a recurrence of a pre-existing issue.
He will now spend some time on the sidelines and begin a period of rehabilitation.
Alexander-Arnold made his comeback in an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Norwich City on January 28, but having felt pain in the same knee after catching his studs in the grass, he was substituted at half-time during Saturday’s Premier League victory over Burnley.
Manager Jurgen Klopp said the right-back was withdrawn as a precaution after feeling discomfort in his knee during the first half of the 3-1 win.
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Asked if Alexander-Arnold had aggravated the same knee, Klopp said: “Yeah. He felt it. It stuck in the grass and we need to make an assessment.”
Expanding further on Alexander-Arnold’s issue, Klopp told Sky Sports: “Same area in the knee. Nothing really bad, but he felt it again and we have to see, we have to assess it.
“Trent said it’s fine, but it’s not fine (because) he feels it so we had to be careful and took him off.”
Alexander-Arnold’s absence means it is likely that Conor Bradley will start in the Carabao Cup final. The defender returned to training on Tuesday after a period of compassionate leave following the death of his father.
Liverpool have been without Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai in recent weeks due to respective hamstring injuries, while Thiago is facing another spell out due to a muscle problem sustained during his comeback off the bench at Arsenal.
Liverpool were also missing goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defender Joe Gomez and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch all through illness but Klopp was hopeful all three players will be available for next Saturday’s Premier League game away to Brentford.
The Carabao Cup final takes place on Sunday, February 25 at Wembley Stadium.
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(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
