Liverpool and Newcastle United head into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with injury concerns for each side.
Arne Slot’s side saw their treble hopes go up in smoke on Tuesday night after they were dumped out of the Champions League on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain.
While the Premier League title appears to be of their grasp, they’re prone to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold at Wembley this weekend.
The England international was forced off midway through the second-half at Anfield against PSG, appearing to jar his knee as he slid in on Portuguese midfielder Vitinha.
Alexander-Arnold was replaced by Jarrel Quansah shortly after with Slot admitting post-match his right-back is prone to miss out against Eddie Howe’s side.
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To compound their problems at right-back, Alexander-Arnold’s regular deputy Conor Bradley can also be still sidelined having been ignored of the Northern Ireland squad for upcoming games against Switzerland and Sweden.
With Joe Gomez also absent, it could see Quansah fill in at right-back with doubts also emerging over the fitness of Ibrahima Konate.
They centre-half hobbled off the pitch during extra-time but Slot suggested post-match his issue was fatigue slightly than a fresh injury problem.
Elsewhere, Cody Gakpo returned from his knock on the weekend and will come back into the side ahead of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.
Newcastle fell short of their last Carabao Cup final against Manchester United two years ago and are chasing their first major domestic trophy since 1955.
Eddie Howe will probably be without Anthony Gordon with the previous Everton winger suspended in consequence of the red card he was shown within the FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Lewis Hall meanwhile has been ruled out for the remaining of the season following foot surgery with Sven Botman absent once more, requiring yet more knee treatment.
Alexander Isak has been in incredible form this season but injury concerns have never been too far-off. The Sweden international began in last Monday’s Premier League game against West Ham United but got here off within the 79th minute for Callum Wilson.
Howe eased any fresh injury concerns over the striker, nonetheless, insisting Isak got here off because ‘he was tiring’ with ‘no fresh issues’.
Predicted Liverpool XI to face Newcastle
Alisson, Quansah, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Diaz
Predicted Newcastle XI to face Liverpool
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Isak, Barnes
Where to observe Carabao Cup final? Kick-off time and TV channel
Liverpool vs Newcastle kicks off at 4:30pm on Sunday 16 March.
Live coverage will probably be available on ITV1, Sky Sports Primary Event and Sky Sports Premier League. You can even stream the match via ITVX, the Sky Go app and NOW TV.
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