Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of Sunday’s Wembley encounter through injury in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
The Liverpool right-back sustained an injury in the second half of Liverpool’s Champions League exit to PSG on Tuesday, but his absence leaves Slot without a traditional right-back going into the cup final on Sunday.
However, Arne Slot was optimistic Alexander-Arnold would be back before the end of the season.
“Trent is not available. He will not be there at the final,” said the Dutchman.
“He is still to be assessed for how long it will take but we do expect him back before the end of the season.”
Who Slot’s in for Alexander-Arnold?
Alexander-Arnold’s injury setback comes as a big blow for Liverpool, however, 22-year-old Jarell Quansah could benefit from his absence as a likely starter at right-back at Wembley – having earned an England call-up from Thomas Tuchel.
His manager has heaped praise on the youngster, and spoke highly of his mentality.
“It says a lot about his mentality,” said Slot when asked about his call-up.
“Last season everyone saw what a talent he is. Then, this season started with him starting, but I changed him against Ipswich, and Ibou and Virgil [Van Dijk] were – and are – such a strong combination that he didn’t play a lot.
“Afterwards, every time he played, everyone could see that he is no longer just a [young] talent because as a [young] talent you don’t have any setbacks.
“He’s strong, he’s fast, he’s very comfortable on the ball, and it gives us an extra quality in terms of set-pieces.
“He showed mentality, and that he had quality, which we knew when we saw him playing last season,” added Slot.
The Cost of Losing Anthony Gordon
Newcastle will look to parade a strong front when they return to Wembley for their second cup final in three years, manager Eddie Howe said on Friday.
“Everyone else is available,” Eddie Howe said. “Losing big important players is never easy, but you have to come back stronger in a unified way.”
With a chance to win their first major trophy since 1955, a red card against Brighton in the FA Cup means Anthony Gordon will serve a three-game suspension – a big miss, and an avoidable one.
The winger is Newcastle’s top chance creator (49), which leaves Eddie Howe’s side in the dark offensively – with much of the service coming from the flanks to their top striker Alexander Isak out of his directness, trickery and dribbling skills.
Isak has been one of the most clinical finishers in the Premier League this season – with the best-shot conversion of the league’s top three scorers and requiring fewer touches in the box to score a goal. He ranks ahead of Erling Haaland but behind Mohamed Salah for minutes per goal and xG performance.
The much-anticipated outcome of a cup final only leaves Slot with a more predictable option of playing the youngster, Quansah, at right-back to fill the big void left by Alexander-Arnold.
While Eddie Howe struggles to fill Gordon’s absence, the thought of Barnes comes as a decent enough replacement but a different profile of winger.
He’ll be expected to have a go at stand-in right-back Quansah in search of Isak while providing enough cover to quench or mitigate Salah’s threat on Sunday.
