Trent Alexander-Arnold faces a race against time to be fit for Liverpool’s title showdown with Manchester City after suffering a hamstring injury in the win at Arsenal… with the right back to miss England duty this month
Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing a race to be ready for Liverpool’s title showdown at Manchester City after he suffered hamstring damage.
It is a huge blow for both Jurgen Klopp and Gareth Southgate, who will now be without the right-back for England’s friendlies against Switzerland and Cote D’Ivore, and Liverpool’s manager said the issue will keep Alexander-Arnold sidelined for ‘weeks’.Alexander-Arnold has been in outstanding form recently but it emerged after Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Arsenal that he was hurt and further tests indicated the full extent of the issue; Klopp revealed the news in his press conference to preview Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.Aside from the FA Cup quarter-final at The City Ground and the two Wembley friendlies, the 23-year-old – who has contributed 16 assists so far this season – looks set to miss Liverpool’s Premier League return on April 2 against Watford and, potentially, the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final.After that game, Liverpool then face a trip to the Etihad on April 10 that many believe will determine who wins the title and Klopp – who may call up Connor Bradly to replace Alexander-Arnold against Forest – did not attempt to hide the significance of the news.
‘We will see how long it will take but, of course, to replace Trent is difficult but possible,’ said Klopp. ‘We always did it.
‘We have Joe. Theoretically we can change the system as well. These kinds of things. So we have a couple of options, but you are right he is very influential.
‘If you look in the past when Milly had to step in he did incredibly well. Incredibly well. He just has to be available and then that is fine. I don’t know if he will for Sunday. Maybe we have a very young solution as well.
‘The way he [Alexander-Arnold] plays, I don’t know any player who plays like Trent in the world. So it will be difficult to find a one versus one replacement.’
Alexander-Arnold was selected for England’s friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast on Thursday.
However, the 23-year-old will be unable to meet up with the squad given his current hamstring issue.
That will come as a blow to the defender after he worked his way back into the squad after missing out on Euro 2020.
Additionally, England manager Gareth Southgate will be forced to call up a replacement over the weekend.
Source:dailymail
