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Liverpool’s preparations for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United could have hardly gone worse with 120-minutes enroute to a bitter defeat to PSG last night.

Most worryingly, Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury after sliding into a challenge on PSG’s Vitinha.

Arne Slot was very pessimistic about the right-back’s chances of featuring at Wembley at the weekend.

Compounding the defensive issues, Ibrahima Konate was also substituted during extra time.

Slot suggested this was more due to fatigue than a significant injury concern, it still represents another potential absence for an already depleted defensive unit.

Meanwhile, Conor Bradley has now missed five consecutive matches since sustaining a muscle injury during the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on February 19, adding to Arne Slot’s mounting defensive concerns ahead of the Wembley showpiece.

The 21-year-old defender was forced to leave the field in the 89th minute at Villa Park after pulling up during a sprint?

Bradley, who had earlier entered the match as a substitute, attempted to continue playing but signaled to the bench.

At the time, Slot said that the Northern Ireland international it would out for a ‘few weeks’.

However, Conor Bradley’s omission from Northern Ireland’s upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden on March 21 and 25 has been confirmed by the Irish FA, citing his ongoing injury as the reason.

Given that these matches are scheduled for late March, it suggests that Bradley is unlikely to regain full fitness before the end of the month.

Added on to that, the reliable Paul Joyce has also asserted that Slot’s right-back options are limited for the clash against Newcastle as Bradley is ‘still injured’.

So, it would then seem that Jarell Quansah is primed to start at right-back over the weekend, and he admittedly looked good in the position when he came on against PSG on Tuesday night.

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