Liverpool’s star defender Trent Alexander-Arnold will sit out the upcoming League Cup final against Newcastle, sidelined by an ankle injury sustained during Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. The injury, which occurred in the second half, is set to keep the 26-year-old off the pitch for an extended period, dealing a significant setback to manager Arne Slot ahead of Sunday’s clash at Wembley.

With no natural right-back available, Slot faces a selection headache. Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, typically the go-to replacements for Alexander-Arnold, remain unavailable as they recover from their own injuries. “Trent is not available. He will not be there at the final,” Slot confirmed during a Friday press conference. “He is still being assessed to determine how long he’ll be out, but we do expect him back before the season ends.”

The injury also saw Alexander-Arnold excluded from England’s squad, announced by manager Thomas Tuchel on Friday, for their World Cup qualifiers later in March. For Liverpool, the defending League Cup champions, the final against Newcastle offers Slot a chance to claim his first trophy since taking the helm. The Reds are also in prime position to secure a record-tying 20th English league title, currently leading the Premier League by a commanding 15 points. Alexander-Arnold’s absence, however, casts a shadow over their preparations for this weekend’s high-stakes encounter.