Synopsis
Trent Alexander-Arnold will not participate in Liverpool's Carabao Cup semifinal second leg against Tottenham Hotspur due to injury. This development comes after he was substituted in the recent match against AFC Bournemouth, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming games.Key Takeaways
- Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured and will miss the Carabao Cup semifinal.
- Liverpool aims to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Tottenham.
- The club has a strong record in League Cup semifinals.
- Unbeaten streak at Anfield in the League Cup continues.
- Arne Slot is satisfied with the current squad despite the injury.
Liverpool, Feb 5 (NationPress) Trent Alexander-Arnold will be sidelined for Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semifinal second leg against Tottenham Hotspur due to an injury.
The vice-captain had to leave the field during last weekend’s triumph over AFC Bournemouth, and Arne Slot confirmed on Wednesday morning that he is not available for Thursday night's match at Anfield, where the Reds aim to overcome a 1-0 deficit.
"He will miss tomorrow's game. We will assess his availability for Sunday, but we know he is not fit for tomorrow. He exited the pitch with some discomfort in his leg (against Bournemouth). He is already back on the training field with the rehab coach, so we will see how long recovery takes, but he won't be available for tomorrow," Slot stated during a press conference.
This marks Liverpool's 20th appearance in the League Cup semifinals, having lost both legs of a semifinal only once before (against Southampton in 2016-17). Since that two-legged loss to the Saints, the club has advanced from each of their last six major cup semifinals.
Liverpool remains unbeaten in their last nine home matches in the League Cup (four wins, five draws), securing victories in the last four by a combined score of 15-4.
Slot’s squad is also unbeaten in their last 15 matches at Anfield across all competitions (13 wins, 2 draws) since the defeat to Nottingham Forest in September. The Reds have netted at least two goals in each of those 15 home games.
When questioned about Liverpool's inactivity during the winter transfer window, Slot expressed satisfaction with his squad. "I’ve reiterated many times; we possess a very solid squad, and if you look at the league standings, the players have validated the trust we place in them. Aside from Trent, we don't have many long-term injuries at present," he remarked.
"We previously faced some injury issues with Alisson, Diogo Jota, and others, but currently, apart from Trent, all are available today. Thus, there is no need to augment the team unless an opportunity arises in the market.
"We experienced this last time with our goalkeeper [Giorgi Mamardashvili] when we identified a chance in the market. For now, we are content with our current team," Slot concluded.