CURTIS JONES is set to start at RIGHT-BACK for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
Arne Slot was dealt a double blow on Tuesday night as the Reds crashed out of the Champions League after Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off with a worrying injury.
The seemingly Real Madrid-bound England right-back, 26, appeared to hurt his ankle badly against PSG – and took four minutes to walk around the pitch and into the tunnel.
The injury sparked fears he’d played his last game for Liverpool – but Slot has allayed those concerns, claiming he should return as the Reds push for only their second Premier League crown.
Jarell Quansah – who was today named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad – came off the bench to fill in at right-back, with Alexander-Arnold’s talented understudy Conor Bradley already on the physio’s table.
Versatile Joe Gomez is another star more than capable of playing in that position who’s also nursing a long-term injury.
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But Slot has hinted he may start Jones – a regular in Liverpool’s attacking midfield trio – on the right of a back-four as Newcastle aim to end their 70-year major trophy drought.
Ahead of the Wembley showdown, Slot said: “Maybe Curtis (Jones) can play [at right-back].
“Trent (Alexander-Arnold) is not available;,he won’t be there.
“He is still to be assessed, but we do expect him back before the [end of the] season.”
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Jones has played 169 times for Liverpool – largely in attacking areas of the pitch, including left wing and as a No10.
However, he has filled in THREE times at right-back before.
Jones started the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Leicester in that position – when he captained the side – while also having two appearances off the bench, both in 2020, including the Community Shield penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal.
Slot will be buoyed slightly by the absence of Newcastle’s star left-winger, Anthony Gordon, taking the edge of Trent’s absence.
The Kop boss said: “I don’t go along with [the final being bigger for Newcastle]. If you reach a final, it is always a big moment for them and also for us.
“In this part of the season – in England – it is almost impossible to have everyone fit. We have two or three injuries and that is minimum you can expect after four months of non-stop football.
“So it is big compliment for us and Newcastle to have so many fit. Trent and Gordon are big players for both clubs but there are a lot of quality players for both.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been handed an injury boost after Ibrahima Konate trained on Friday, having also hobbled off against PSG.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
