In a significant setback for Liverpool, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of action for “a few weeks” due to a knee injury sustained during Sunday’s FA Cup third-round victory against Arsenal.
The news comes as a blow to Jurgen Klopp’s side, which is gearing up for crucial fixtures in the Carabao Cup, Premier League, and FA Cup.
The 25-year-old England international suffered a knee injury characterized by a hyperextension during the recent FA Cup clash.
According to Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, Alexander-Arnold has a tear in the lateral ligament of his knee, requiring a period of rest and rehabilitation.
Lijnders commented on the severity of the injury, stating, “It is a big blow as he was one of our most important players. Even in bad spells, he was the one putting the balls where we needed the difference.”
The assistant manager emphasized Alexander-Arnold’s role in providing flexibility to the team’s game dynamics and expressed the team’s concern over his absence.
The timing of Alexander-Arnold’s injury is particularly unfortunate, as Liverpool faces a series of important fixtures in various competitions.
The right-back will miss the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham on Wednesday, and subsequent Premier League encounters with Bournemouth and Chelsea. Additionally, he will be unavailable for the FA Cup fourth-round clash against either Norwich or Bristol Rovers.
Liverpool’s Assistant Manager Pep Lijnders expressed the team’s approach to coping with Alexander-Arnold’s absence, stating, “We will have to find new dynamics without him because he made our game flexible.”
The team will be compelled to adapt and reorganise its defensive and offensive strategies to compensate for the influential defender’s temporary absence.
