It is clear that Liverpool Trent Alexander -Arnold missed in their Carabao Cup Final League against Newcastle -and Gary Lineker no longer agreed.
The men of Arne Slot succumbed to Wembley when they left a second cup match within a few days. The Reds were eliminated on Tuesday from the last 16 of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday and Liverpool found no postponement against the Magpies.
A late goal of replacement Federico Chiesa offered little comfort when Newcastle came up as a deserved champions in London. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak made for the result for Eddie Howe, and Lineker could only agree because Micah Richards analyzed the effect of Alexander-Arnold on the rest, is a football podcast (via the Liverpool Echo).
“They just didn't have the same current that they usually have. And you know Trent at a large pitch – he is a great passer,” said Richards, with Lineker who nodded in confirmation. “Whether he drives forward, whether he steps on the ball and let things happen. I just thought, from the point of view of Liverpool, they really missed him.”
Lineker – who took 40 goals in just 57 outings for Everton before he came to Barcelona – approved Richards' comments about the invaluable death of Alexander -Arnold. The veteran -striker emphatically recognized the point of Richards by responding: “Oh, yes.”
In addition to the absence of Alexander-Arnold as a result of injury, Slot was also without the services of Conor Bradley in London. This left Liverpool without a natural right back and forced central defender Jarell Quansah to fill in the flank.
Coincidentally, much of the Newcastle attack came from their left side, and the overlapping run of Tino Livramento from left rear the decisive goal of Isak. However, it was not the only area where Liverpool struggled, because few could dispute the magpies to take their first domestic cup home in 70 years.
For some, this result underlines why Liverpool should retain Alexander-Arnold this summer. It is known that the contract of the English international ends in June, with a growing speculation he is ready to join Real Madrid to a free transfer.
With experienced players Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, the end of their contracts is also approaching, there is a matter that Alexander-Arnold earns the most from innovation. Sunday's performance emphasized the gap in Liverpool's creativity when the 26-year-old is not on the field, with Newcastle surpassing the Reds in almost every aspect, even though it had only 34% owned.
There will be discussions about whether rising star Bradley – who fought with injuries this season – is a suitable replacement that can fill the void. The 21-year-old split just as Alexander-Arnold did at a young age and delivers this period of striking versions in victories over, Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen, and even several times in Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland.
Slot and his team remain 12 points ahead at the top of the Premier League and are on track to secure the title in the Dutchman's debut season on Merseyside. However, the loss of Sunday may have put club bosses on Tennerhooks awaiting certain departure this summer.
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