Trent Alexander-Arnold injury 'big blow' to Liverpool ahead of Fulham League Cup clash

England international joins striker Mohamed Salah on Reds' list of absentees

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has nine assists to his name across all competitions this season. AFP

Liverpool have suffered an injury setback ahead of their League Cup semi-final clash with Fulham after Trent Alexander-Arnold was ruled out of action “for a few weeks”.

The England international picked up a knee problem during Liverpool's FA Cup win over Arsenal at the weekend and will now miss Wednesday's last-four first-leg at Anfield.

Alexander-Arnold has been in superb form for the Reds this season, blossoming in a hybrid role that sees him shift from right-back into a midfield playmaker, providing nine assists across all competitions along the way.

“Trent hyperextended his knee during the last game so he has a little tear in the lateral ligament of his knee and he will need time to recover,” said Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders ahead of Wednesday's game.

“He had a scan and he will be out for a few weeks, so let's see after that.

“It is a big blow as he was one of our most important players. Even in bad spells he was the one putting the balls where we needed the difference.

“We will have to find new dynamics without him because he made our game flexible but hopefully it is three weeks.

“He will get some rest and then hopefully he can come back to where he was. Because this guy was decisive in all the games and was the one who created constantly for us from deep and gave the team a high level of flexibility.

“We will really miss him.”

Arsenal 0 Liverpool 2: Player ratings

ARSENAL RATINGS: Displayed superb vision to play Nelson through on goal from his penalty area. Made a good save to deny Diaz in the 76th minute. Getty Images

Stopped Diaz from getting on the end of a Nunez cross with an important interception. Forced Alisson into a brilliant save from the edge of the penalty area in the 37th minute. AP

Aggressive defensive performance from Gabriel. Just like Saliba, he was solid for much of the game. Reuters

Calm in possession, and impressive with his passing out from the back. Made a perfectly timed tackle to stop Nunez in the 55th minute. PA

Enjoyed a solid first-half defensive performance, but deflected the ball past Ramsdale and into his own goal to put Liverpool in front late in the game. Reuters

Did well to steal the ball off the foot of Mac Allister and kickstarted a counterattack that almost led to a goal. Tracked back well to stop a Diaz run in the 50th minute. Getty Images

Dovetailed well with Rice at the base of the Gunners’ midfield and helped kickstart attacks from deep. AFP

Lovely pass in-field to set up Nelson in the seventh minute. Struck the crossbar with a fierce effort from close range in the tenth minute. Getty Images

Had a good chance to open the scoring early in the game but could only find the side netting after getting past Alisson. Had another chance to score in the seventh minute, but he was denied by an Alexander-Arnold block. AFP

Found at the edge of the penalty area with a cutback from Nelson, but his effort was too weak to trouble Alisson. Failed to keep another shot on target in the 57th minute. Got the connection all wrong when he had the chance to play Odegaard in for a simple tap-in. PA

Tested Allison with a curled effort in the eighth minute. Took too long on the ball when he had another chance with half an hour of the game gone. Should have put the Gunners’ ahead in the first half. EPA

SUBS: (Nelson, 62') Looked lively after coming on and caused plenty of problems for Alexander-Arnold on the right. AFP

(Jorginho, 82') A willing runner after coming on but didn't get a chance to test Alisson in the Liverpool goal. Reuters

(Kiwior, 88') Came on too late to make an impact. Reuters

(Havertz, 88') Came on too late to make an impact. Reuters

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Forced into a good save by Havertz in the eighth minute. Did well to push Havertz's deflected cross away from goal. AP

Made a block to deny Nelson from point-blank range. Went close with an effort that came off the crossbar on the stroke of halftime. Struggled after Martinelli came on and was wisely moved to midfield by Klopp. Assisted Kiwior’s own goal with an inviting corner kick. Getty Images

Lost the ball in a dangerous position and almost gifted Arsenal a goal early in the game. Recovered well to block Saka’s shot just after the restart. AFP

Made a vital block to deny Nelson a certain goal in the 10th minute. Made two important interceptions in two minutes to bail out Alexander-Arnold after Martinelli had got past him. Reuters

Got beaten in the air too easily by Havertz for a header that went close. Important clearance to intercept Odegaard's through ball to Saka late in the game. AP

Endured a slow start to the game. Saw the ball stolen from his feet several times but improved in the second half. Getty Images

Hardworking display in the middle of the pitch but he was mostly dominated by Rice. Forced Ramsdale into a routine save with a weak effort on the hour mark. AFP

Effective but not at his best at the Emirates. Displayed his ability in tight spaces on a number of occasions. AFP

Liverpool's best midfielder in the first half. Made use of his pace to carry the ball forward on several occasions and always seemed to pick the right pass. AFP

Forced Ramsdale into a good save in the 76th minute before doubling Liverpool's advantage with virtually the last touch of the game to secure the win. AP

Got on the end of a corner kick in the 22nd minute but failed to keep his header on target. Got everything right except his finish when he tried to curl in his effort in the 53rd minute. Had a chance to play Diaz through on goal but his pass was just behind his teammate. Reuters

SUBS: (Mac Allister, 59') Added energy to the Red’s midfield and helped improve play in the second half. Brought down Odegaard to give away a freekick in a dangerous position in the 89th minute. PA

(Gakpo, 59') Got close to extending his impressive goalscoring record against the Gunners when his header came off the bar in the 77th minute. Assisted Diaz’s goal with a pass out wide in the last minute. AFP

(Elliot, 75') Looked more solid when tasked with defending against Martinelli and helped limit his impact. Important header to stop Odegaard from getting on the of White’s cross in the 90th minute. AFP

(Jones, 75') Took one for the team by making a tactical foul and picking up a late yellow card to stop an Arsenal counterattack. Didnt allow the Gunners midfielders to enjoy plenty of time on the ball after coming on. AFP

With 18-goal top-scorer Mohamed Salah now away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt, Liverpool are without the services of two of their key players in a campaign which sees them still going strong on four fronts.

Wataru Endo is also unavailable – with the midfielder playing for Japan at the Asian Cup in Qatar – while Alexander-Arnold joins teammates Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic on the injured list.

Captain Virgil van Dijk is expected to return after missing the Arsenal game due to illness.

The Merseysiders are currently three points clear at the top of the Premier League, playing in the League Cup semi-final, through to the Europa League last-16 and Sunday's win over Arsenal secured their place in the FA Cup fourth round.

Liverpool have a 10-day break after the Fulham game before they are back in action away to Bournemouth in the league on January 21, with the second leg at Fulham coming four days later.

Their January schedule is completed when they take on Norwich City or Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup and Chelsea in the league – with both games taking place at Anfield at the end of the month.

Lijnders, though, is confident that Liverpool have the squad strength to cope with their absent players ahead of what looks set to be a relentless schedule until the end of the season.

“We have many weapons so there is nobody irreplaceable,” said the Dutchman. “Mohamed [Salah] goes away, [Diogo] Jota steps up. If the best players aren't there and you play really well – like the second half against Arsenal – that is a good sign.

“That's what we have always done. We don't rely on one or two, we are missing probably three core players from our leadership group in terms of Robbo [Andy Robertson], Trent and Mohamed. That [Alexander-Arnold's injury] is a blow of course.

“But the squad has a lot of other qualities if you ask me. We have to find different dynamics to become a more complete team. You see with the players you have and try to build round that.

“So we find solutions without Trent as well. But this squad has so much talent and so much power. We always say as long as counterpressing is there everything else is replaceable.”