TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has handed Liverpool a huge blow after he was ruled out for up to four weeks with a calf injury.
The right-back had already been forced out of England duty following the problem he sustained during the Reds 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold will be out for a month with a calf injuryCredit: PA:Press Association
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fearful over the extent of the defender’s knock which led him to call for the Premier League to reintroduce five substitutions.
The German boss said on Sunday: “It’s a lack of leadership. Richard Masters sold it completely wrong, that’s my understanding.
“The teams had to understand why it’s so helpful. It’s not an advantage, it’s a necessity. It’s in all other countries, it happens.”
In addition to missing England’s international fixtures, Alexander-Arnold’s prognosis has dampened the Reds bid to retain their league title.
The 22-year-old will be sidelined for the club’s Premier League games against top of the table Leicester, as well as Brighton and Wolves.
Alexander-Arnold will also be in the stands for Liverpool’s crunch Champions League fixtures against Atalanta and Ajax at Anfield.
The Reds academy graduate has added to his boyhood club’s mounting injury list this season – with Virgil van Dijk out for the foreseeable future.
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who had been deputising for the influential Dutchman at centre back, has been missing with a hamstring problem.
Liverpool’s No1 Alisson has also had a spell on the sidelines while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to feature at all this term.
Thiago Alcantara meanwhile has only played 135 minutes since his £20million move from Bayern Munich.
The Spaniard is yet to recover from a heavy challenge from Richarlison that saw the latter red-carded during the Merseyside Derby last month.
Diogo Jota stakes claim for regular starting spot after hat-trick for Liverpool
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
