Trent Alexander-Arnold: Liverpool could now be without star for ‘eight weeks’ in ‘huge blow’ – pundit
Alan Hutton has suggested Liverpool could be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for at least six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted bringing the 23-year-old back any sooner would be a “risk” and that replacing him would be practically “impossible”.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed last week (18 March) Alexander-Arnold is out with a hamstring problem and will be missing for weeks.
As reported by The Athletic’s James Pearce on Monday (21 March), the defender’s setback is not serious and there is cautious optimism over a swift return next month.
However, Hutton suggested the Reds need to be wary about bringing him back too soon.
“He’s key to pretty much most of their play,” Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“I mean if you look at the way a lot comes down the right. Salah tucks inside, Alexander-Arnold goes round. We’re constantly going on about his delivery and the passes he can see.
“He’s like a midfielder playing at full-back and he’s key to what they do. His numbers are very good.
“So it’s a difficult one with Gomez coming in. He’s a centre-half. It’s always going to be hard for him to replicate what Trent does. It’s pretty much impossible.
“It’s his hamstring so you’re looking at six to eight weeks, really. I mean, if he comes back any quicker than six weeks then it is a risk, in my opinion, depending on the severity of it, whether it’s a grade one, two or three.
“We’ll have to wait and see but it’s a huge blow.”
Alexander-Arnold has played 35 times this season.
He has netted twice and contributed 15 assists for the Reds.
In other news, pundit claims Liverpool could lose the next “Tammy Abraham”.