How will Liverpool cope without Alexander-Arnold against Manchester City?
How will Liverpool cope without Alexander-Arnold against Manchester City?
The Reds star will almost certainly miss Sunday’s blockbuster clash at Anfield through injury, leaving uncertainty over who will step in at right-back
How do you replace the irreplaceable?
That’s the dilemma facing Jurgen Klopp this weekend, following the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold is almost certainly out of Liverpool’s Premier League showdown with Manchester City through injury.
Alexander-Arnold suffered an adductor problem in training on Monday, ahead of the Reds’ Champions League game with Porto, and is set to miss Sunday’s game, as well as the forthcoming internationals with England.
Bad news indeed, for the league leaders. The 22-year-old is one of Liverpool’s key players, his delivery from right-back one of the game’s deadliest weapons. His absence will be keenly felt against Pep Guardiola’s side.
What will Klopp do without his creative hub, then?
Here, Goal takes a look at the options available to the Reds boss…
James Milner
The most obvious solution will be to ask James Milner, Liverpool’s Mr Reliable, to step in at right-back.
The 35-year-old did so against Porto, having impressed up against Crystal Palace and Wilfried Zaha earlier in the month, when Alexander-Arnold was ruled out through illness.
Milner, as he tends to, delivered in Portugal, providing an assist for Sadio Mane and keeping the lively Luis Diaz in check.
His experience, tenacity and nous make him a key figure at Anfield, despite his advancing years. And the fact that Klopp chose to take him off 24 minutes from the end against Porto suggests he will be asked to go again on Sunday.
He is not a natural full-back, by any means, and there is still a fear that genuine pace could expose him, but rarely does he let his side down when asked to fill in there.
Against his former club, he looks the standout option.
Joe Gomez
Another option available to Klopp would be to ask Joe Gomez to move across to right-back.
The England international has played there plenty of times in the past, and replaced Milner against Porto, though it was always expected that he would eventually settle as a centre-back, which he has.
Gomez certainly has the pace and the size to be a solid option if needed, though replicating Alexander-Arnold’s passing range and attacking output would be a huge ask for the 24-year-old, who has only started two games since returning from a serious knee injury himself.
Mind you, we’d love to see him up against Raheem Sterling, wouldn’t we?