Liverpool players during the 2024/25 Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle
Liverpool were clearly missing Trent Alexander-Arnold in Sunday's cup defeat to Newcastle
It's evident Liverpool missed Trent Alexander-Arnold in their Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle - and Gary Lineker couldn't agree more.
Arne Slot's men succumbed at Wembley as they exited a second cup competition in a matter of days. The Reds were eliminated from the last 16 of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, and Liverpool found no respite against the Magpies.
A late goal from substitute Federico Chiesa offered little solace as Newcastle emerged as deserved champions in London. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak secured the result for Eddie Howe's side, and Lineker could only concur as Micah Richards analysed the effect of Alexander-Arnold’s absence on The Rest Is Football podcast (via the Liverpool Echo).
"They just didn't have the same flow they usually have. And you know Trent on a big pitch - he's a great passer of the ball," said Richards, with Lineker nodding in confirmation. "Whether he's driving forward, whether he's getting on the ball in that space, making things happen. I just thought, from Liverpool's point of view, they really missed him."
Lineker - who bagged 40 goals in just 57 outings for Everton prior to joining Barcelona - approved of Richards’ comments about Alexander-Arnold’s invaluable passing. The veteran striker emphatically acknowledged Richards’ point by responding: "Oh, yeah."
Besides Alexander-Arnold's absence due to injury, Slot was also without the services of Conor Bradley in London. This left Liverpool without a natural right-back and forced central defender Jarell Quansah to fill in on the flank.
Coincidentally, much of Newcastle's attack came from their left side, and Tino Livramento's overlapping run from left back teed up Isak's decisive goal. However, it wasn't the only area where Liverpool struggled, as few could dispute the Magpies deserved to take home their first domestic cup in 70 years.
Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off as Liverpool played PSG.
Alexander-Arnold limped off during Tuesday's defeat to PSG ( Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
For some, this result underscores why Liverpool should pay up to retain Alexander-Arnold this summer. It's well known the England international's contract is set to expire in June, with growing speculation he's poised to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
However, with seasoned players Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah also nearing the end of their contracts, there's a case to be made that Alexander-Arnold is most deserving of a renewal. Sunday's performance highlighted the gap in Liverpool's creativity when the 26-year-old isn't on the pitch, with Newcastle outperforming the Reds in almost every aspect despite having only 34% possession.
Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football
Lineker strongly agreed with Richards' analysis regarding Alexander-Arnold's missed impact
There will be discussions about whether rising star Bradley - who has battled with injuries this season - is a suitable replacement capable of filling the void. The 21-year-old has sparkled just as Alexander-Arnold did at a young age, delivering standout performances in victories over Real, Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen this term, and even captaining Northern Ireland on several occasions.
Slot and his team remain 12 points ahead at the top of the Premier League and are on course to secure the title in the Dutchman's debut season on Merseyside. However, Sunday's loss may have put club bosses on tenterhooks in anticipation of certain departures this summer.
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