Liverpool have suffered a significant setback as Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to be sidelined for an extended period due to injury.
The vice-captain of the Reds will be absent for the next three matches, including Premier League encounters against Luton and Brentford, as well as the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on February 25.
According to The Times, Alexander-Arnold has exacerbated a pre-existing knee injury. The full-back initially encountered a knee problem during a 2-0 FA Cup victory over Arsenal on January 7, leading to him missing three matches.
Despite making brief appearances against Norwich, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Burnley, he was substituted at half-time during a 3-1 win over Burnley on February 10 after aggravating the tear to his lateral collateral ligament.
Speaking to talkSPORT after the match, manager Jurgen Klopp said: “He felt it a little bit, in the same area in the knee where he had the last injury, so we have to see, we have to asses that.
“He looked alright but felt it a little bit, so we had to take him off.
“And then with the situation we have availability-wise we had to put Curtis [Jones] at right-back and he did extremely well, I have to say.
“That’s probably the best thing about the whole game, how the boys accepted the difficulties, took them, tried to fight through it and got a very well deserved result.”
Alexander-Arnold's non-appearance has been alleviated by the rise of academy graduate Conor Bradley, who has been outstanding in his stead. However, the 20-year-old Northern Irishman, unfortunately, missed the last two matches for the Reds as his father passed away.
Alexander-Arnold has also been in fine form, recording two goals and ten assists in 29 games this season.
He also scored a crucial equaliser away to Manchester City on 25th November, and will be desperate to return for the return match at Anfield on 10th March.
According to premierinjuries.com, Liverpool currently have the most players out of any team in the division.
Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker missed the win over Burnley due to the flu but could return against Brentford next time out.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Thiago Alcantara are also out of action after brief returns, but there has been a boost in the form of top scorer Mohamed Salah returning to full training.