Liverpool’s painful exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night was made even worse by an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Reds’ vice-captain was clearly in discomfort after rolling his ankle in the second half at Anfield. He was unable to continue and had to be substituted in the 73rd minute, with Jarell Quansah coming on to replace him.
Following the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged that he would be “surprised” if the 26-year-old recovered in time for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United. Now, it has been confirmed that Alexander-Arnold will not be available for the game.
The severity of his injury has raised concerns about how long he will be sidelined. Shane Ryan, an advanced practice physiotherapist and director of Motherwell Physio, provided an analysis of the injury, suggesting that in a best-case scenario, the England international could return by late April.
Ryan, speaking via Motherwell Physio’s TikTok account, described the nature of the injury and its potential impact. He explained that the way Alexander-Arnold’s foot got caught on the ground was concerning, as it resembled the mechanism of a high ankle sprain. This type of injury commonly affects the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), which is located higher up in the ankle than a regular sprain. Unlike standard ankle injuries, high ankle sprains tend to take longer to heal, typically requiring a recovery period of six to eight weeks. However, the healing time could be even longer if there is additional damage.
Ryan further cautioned that, in more severe cases, such injuries could lead to fractures or long-term instability, which would prolong Alexander-Arnold’s absence. Liverpool will be hoping that his injury is not as serious as that, allowing him to return to action before the season concludes.
If Ryan’s assessment is accurate, Alexander-Arnold should be back before the campaign ends. That would be a relief for Liverpool supporters, particularly given the ongoing speculation about his future. A more prolonged absence might have meant that he had already played his final game for the club if he does not agree to a contract extension.
The injury is a significant blow for Liverpool, particularly as it means Alexander-Arnold will miss a second successive Carabao Cup final. To make matters worse, Conor Bradley is also sidelined, leaving the Reds short of options at right-back. As a result, Jarell Quansah is expected to start in that position when Liverpool faces Newcastle at Wembley. While not an ideal solution, Quansah put in a solid performance in the role after coming on against PSG, giving Liverpool some confidence heading into the final.
One silver lining for Liverpool is their upcoming schedule. After Sunday’s final, they will have a 17-day break before their next fixture. According to projections from Premier Injuries, this gap could give Conor Bradley enough time to recover in time for the Merseyside derby against Everton on April 2.
Slot is set to provide an official update on Alexander-Arnold’s condition in his pre-final press conference. However, based on Ryan’s expert analysis, Liverpool fans should expect the defender to be out for at least six weeks.
