It looks like Liverpool have to deal with yet another injury in defence with Trent Alexander-Arnold tipped to be out for up to four weeks.
Alexander-Arnold was forced off in the second half of the Reds’ 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Sunday after pulling up with a calf strain.
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Liverpool haven’t announced the extent of the right-back’s injury, but The Times journalist Paul Joyce says he’s expected to be out for up to four weeks.
The injury will thus rule the 22-year-old out of England’s upcoming Nations League clashes against Belgium and Iceland, as well as the friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
If Alexander-Arnold is out for the full four weeks then he’ll miss Premier League clashes against Leicester, Brighton and Wolves and Champions League matches against Atalanta and Ajax. Neco Williams, 19, is expected to fill in for Alexander-Arnold.
This isn’t the first injury setback in defence Liverpool have experienced, with Virgil van Dijk expected to be out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, while stand-in centre-back Fabinho is still nursing a thigh strain. Joel Matip has recently returned from an injury sustained earlier in the season.
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Alexander-Arnold’s injury sparked a debate fronted by the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola calling on the Premier League to introduce a five-substitute rule into matches this season, as is done in the Champions League and in Europe’s other major leagues.
Reds boss Klopp criticised Premier League chief executive Richard Masters over the issue.
“In my understanding it is a lack of leadership,” the German said.
“You go in a meeting and Richard Masters said you want three subs or five subs. It is not an advantage, it is a necessity. In all other countries it happens.
“Richard Masters sold it completely wrong. It is the only big league where you have only three subs. Trent will be out for England. What he has we don’t know. It will not be the only one Gareth (Southgate) has lost.”
The Premier League has declined to comment.
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