Liverpool’s painful Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night was made worse by Trent Alexander-Arnold suffering an injury.
The vice-captain was clearly in distress after rolling his ankle in the second half at Anfield and had to be substituted in the 73rd minute, with Jarell Quansah replacing him.
After the match, Arne Slot admitted he would be “surprised” if the 26-year-old recovered in time for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, and it has now been confirmed that he will miss the game.
How long will Trent be out?
Shane Ryan, an advanced practice physiotherapist and director of Motherwell Physio, analyzed the injury and suggested that the best-case scenario would see the England international return by late April.
Speaking via motherwell.physio on TikTok, Ryan explained:
“The way his foot caught on the ground looked nasty. This type of injury is typical of a high ankle sprain, which involves tearing the ligaments higher up in the ankle, specifically the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL).
Unlike standard ankle sprains, these injuries tend to take longer to heal—typically six to eight weeks, though recovery time can vary depending on any additional damage. Hopefully, it’s no worse than that, as more severe cases can lead to fractures and long-term instability.”
Will Trent return before the season ends?
If Ryan’s prognosis is accurate, Alexander-Arnold should return before the end of the season. This is a relief for Liverpool fans, especially given speculation about his future, as an extended layoff might have meant he had already played his last game for the club if he doesn’t sign a contract extension.
Unfortunately, he will miss a second consecutive Carabao Cup final due to injury. With Conor Bradley also sidelined, Quansah is expected to start at right-back against Newcastle at Wembley.
While not an ideal situation, the young defender performed well in that role after coming on against PSG.
One silver lining is Liverpool’s schedule—after Sunday’s final, they won’t play again for 17 days. According to projections from Premier Injuries, this break could allow Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley enough time to recover for the Merseyside derby on April 2.
Slot is likely to be asked for an update on Trent’s injury in his pre-final press conference, but any response will likely align with Ryan’s expert assessment.
