Arnold worsens Reds' injury issues before Carabao Cup semi-final with Fulham
New year, same bad luck in the injury department for Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s troops are dropping like flies and, with the Reds competing on four fronts, the medical team might need to perform a Mo Salah-esque piece of magic if they are to realise those dreams this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold became the latest member of a 10-man list of players absent for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg with Fulham at Anfield, with Klopp’s men obliterated by injuries and two key components, Salah and Wataru Endo, away on international duty.
So far, Klopp and right-hand man Pep Lijnders have come up with solutions to every enforced absence. When Andy Robertson dislocated his shoulder, up stepped the capable Kostas Tsimikas. When Tsimikas broke his collarbone, Joe Gomez showcased his admirable versatility.
Unfortunately, Liverpool only have one Gomez. He has filled in at right back, centre back and left back when needed this season - but he can only be in one position at once. Alexander-Arnold’s injury now threatens to be the straw to break the camel’s back.
An unproven youngster must step up in his absence, with Conor Bradley or Owen Beck most likely to deputise. Both are well liked by Liverpool and there are no worries in a defensive sense, but the Reds have now lost their creator-in-chief, with Alexander-Arnold so often the star man.
‘Trent was decisive in all the games and was the one who constantly created for us from deep and gave the team a high level of flexibility,’ said Lijnders on Tuesday. ‘We will really miss him.’ And the Dutch coach is right, especially with top scorer Salah also missing for around a month.
Alexander-Arnold was seen limping on to the team bus at the Emirates on Sunday evening - but told reporters
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