LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp admits there is no player in the world who could replace Trent Alexander-Arnold after the right-back was ruled out for a number of weeks with a hamstring injury.
The defender’s setback is a huge blow to the Reds’ hopes of maintaining their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple with a key month ahead including a trip to Premier League title rivals Manchester City on April 10.
Klopp does not have a ready-made senior replacement. Joe Gomez can play on the right but his preferred position is in the centre and the Reds boss will have to fashion a plan using him, midfielder James Milner and youngster Conor Bradley.
Alexander-Arnold has provided a career-best 16 assists this season, plus two goals, and that will be impossible to reproduce from somewhere else in the squad.
“Trent is out with a hamstring, so he will cannot be part of England as well. No good news,” he said.
“We will see how long it will take but, of course, to replace Trent is difficult but possible. We always did it.
“The way he plays, I don’t know any player who plays like Trent in the world. So it will be difficult to find a one versus one replacement.
“We have Joe. Theoretically we can change the system as well. These kinds of things, so we have a couple of options, but you are right he is very influential.
“If you look in the past when Milly had to step in he did incredibly well. Incredibly well. He just has to be available and then that is fine. I don’t know if he will (be available) for Sunday (against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup).
“Maybe we have a very young solution (Bradley) as well.”
Klopp also has an injury worry over Mohamed Salah, who was only fit enough for a place on the bench in Wednesday’s win at Arsenal – the game in which Alexander-Arnold was injured but still completed 90 minutes.
“Mo felt his foot a bit after the game so we will have to see what they do with that,” added Klopp.
“On top of that there are some other bits and bobs. We have to wait.”
Ireland internationals Devin Toner and Lindsay Peat were our guests for The Front Row’s special live event, in partnership with Guinness, this week. The panel chats through Ireland’s championship chances ahead of the final round of Guinness Six Nations matches, and members of the Emerald Warriors – Ireland’s first LGBT+ inclusive rugby team – also join us to talk about breaking down barriers in rugby. Click here to subscribe or listen below:
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