Crushing blow for Liverpool! Injured Trent Alexander-Arnold to miss Carabao Cup final against Chelsea - faces race against time to make Man City clash

The England international had to be taken off at half-time during Liverpool's 3-1 win over Burnley last weekend. Although Jurgen Klopp assured fans after the match that the injury was "nothing really bad" and he was subbed as a precautionary measure, medical scans on the knee had a different story to tell.

According to The Mirror,Alexander-Arnold now faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines and will be unavailable for the Carabao Cup showpiece against the Blues at Wembley on February 25. The seriousness of the injury is such that he remains doubtful for the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Southampton and, more significantly, for subsequent Premier League clashes against Nottingham Forest and title-rivals Man City in March. According to The Telegraph, Dominik Szoboszlai is also doubtful for the cup final for the Reds as he nurses a hamstring issue.

Alexander-Arnold suffered a minor tear of a lateral knee ligament against Arsenal in the FA Cup in January which forced him to miss the next three games. Although he returned against Norwich in the next round and went on to feature in league fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal, the versatile star hurt himself in the same area against Burnley.

The Liverpool medical staff will tread with caution during the course of his rehabilitation and will not rush him back early as it is a recurring issue. Klopp will pin his hopes on Conor Bradley in the absence of Alexander-Arnold, who has returned to training following the death of his father. The Reds will be back in action against Brentford on Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium in a league encounter.