MatchLiverpool v Newcastle United: Carabao Cup final team news

The centre-back looks set to be available for Sunday’s 4.30pm GMT kick-off at Wembley after his enforced substitution during extra-time of the Reds’ loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Earlier on Friday, Arne Slot had told the media: “We didn’t train yesterday, we were on a day off and the day before was recovery, so I expect him to train with us today but let’s see how he is.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold is ruled out of the final due to the injury he picked up during the defeat by PSG.

Slot said: “So, Trent is indeed not available. He will not be there at the final. But he is still to be assessed for how long it’s going to take but we do expect him back in the end of the season.”

With Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also sidelined, it was put to the head coach that Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo are potentially his only senior options to play at right-back.

“I think maybe even Curtis [Jones] can play there. And you can also play as a left-footed defender on the right side, which is what Newcastle do at the moment but on the opposite [side],” he replied.

Newcastle will also be missing several players, with Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and Jamaal Lascelles injured and Anthony Gordon suspended.

Slot noted: “I think in this part of the season, especially in England, it’s almost impossible to have all your players fit and I think both teams have maybe two, three or four players that cannot play and that’s almost a privilege because so many teams have had, during the season, more than two or three injuries.

“Two or three injuries is normally the minimum you can expect in a league like this, after four months of non-stop football. So, it’s a big compliment to the staff of Newcastle and our staff that so many players are available.

“And yes, Trent is a very important player for us and yes, Anthony Gordon is a very important player for them. But the good thing for both managers is that there are still a lot of quality players available for both managers.”

• Carabao Cup final: Go to LFCTV GO for exclusive pre-match build-up, live audio commentary of the game and the full match replay

Liverpool’s squad go into the final on the back of a physically and emotionally draining elimination from the Champions League, with PSG winning on penalties after 120 minutes at Anfield.

Slot, though, does not feel this will result in widespread fatigue for the final.

He added: “I think it is in the end quite normal that players are tired in extra-time, especially if the 90 minutes were so intense and you don’t get the reward for that.

“But I think I made five changes, so five of the 11 who are on the pitch – and you can exclude the goalkeeper – so five out of 10 could never be tired.

“So, I don’t think that was the reason why Paris Saint-Germain was better in the last half an hour than the first 90. That had, in my opinion, nothing to do with us being tired. But there are four days in between to play on Sunday again, definitely.”

• Exclusive interview: Arne Slot previews the Carabao Cup final

With Botman, Hall, Lascelles and Gordon unavailable, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was asked about his selection plans on Friday.

He said: “There are always decisions to make [and] that will be no different for this game. We don’t have a huge pool of players, we have a very tight squad.

“We are in a good place after the win on Monday night and that was a big thing for us. The players are in a good place. Everyone wants to play in these bigger games.”

Last match

Liverpool 0-1 PSG (March 11): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Diaz, Jota.

West Ham United 0-1 Newcastle (March 10): Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Murphy, Barnes, Isak.