Arne Slot may bench one of his star men in the Carabao Cup final, but will definitely be without another following a nightmare Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League.
Anthony Gordon is suspended after a silly red card in our FA Cup exit to Brighton, while Lewis Hall and Sven Botman have both been ruled out with injury for Newcastle.
However, reports coming out of Merseyside suggest the Reds could make a few changes of their own, with one ruled out and another of Liverpool’s long-term starters tipped to drop to the bench.
According to reports, Trent Alexander-Arnold is OUT of Sunday’s final and another key member of their back line could also miss out in a surprise move from Arne Slot.
In his latest Liverpool Confidential piece for [The Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14490773/LIVERPOOL-CONFIDENTIAL-transfers-injury-Wembley-team-news-Arne-Slot.html), Lewis Steele reports that Caoimhim Kelleher is ‘likely’ to start Sunday’s final instead of star goalkeeper Alisson, with Slot often backing his No.2 to start in domestic cups.
The Irishman has kept eight clean sheets in 17 appearances in all competitions this season, deputising while Alisson nursed a hamstring injury, but conceded three in the thrilling six-goal draw at St. James’ Park in December.
Trent Alexander-Arnold started on the bench that day before delivering two assists to Mo Salah, however the right-back will not be able to replicate that at Wembley. An ankle injury suffered against Paris Saint-Germain is serious enough to keep him out of action short-term, but is not considered season ending.
Joe Gomez and Connor Bradley are also unavailable for selection, making it likely that centre-back Jarell Quansah moves over to right-back.
Ibrahima Konate, who was forced off with fatigue on Tuesday against PSG, will be fine for the final. It remains to be seen who Slot starts up top: Diogo Jota or Darwin Nunez as the No. 9, with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo battling on the left-wing.
The goalkeeper decision may well work in Newcastle’s favour. No slight on Kelleher, but Alisson is considered the best in the world in his position and was at his best to keep the Reds in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against PSG.
Kelleher is more than capable and looked solid in Alisson’s absence earlier in the season, but the Brazilian is just a few levels above. Slot typically likes to play his No. 2 in domestic cups and, though no final decision has been made yet, it would show tremendous faith in the 26-year-old to start him at Wembley.
No TAA or Alisson would be at the very least a much-needed boost on the day. No Hall, Botman or Gordon and Howe’s poor record of beating Liverpool just once in 21 attempts in his career – Newcastle almost need all the help we can get.