Liverpool lose Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to injury for Arsenal clash and face crisis with Salah and Mane still at Afcon
LIVERPOOL have suffered an injury blow with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain OUT of Thursday’s Carabao Cup showdown at Arsenal.
The former Gunners star was hoping to face his old side in the semi-final, second-leg clash at the Emirates.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain has failed to recover from an ankle problem sustained in Sunday’s 3-0 win against Brentford.
The versatile midfielder was forced off just minutes after scoring at Anfield.
And Oxlade-Chamberlain will not make it in time for tomorrow’s Carabao battle, with the scores tied at 0-0 from the first leg.
It means Jurgen Klopp is without yet another senior star, with Thiago Alcantara and Divock Origi still out injured.
Meanwhile, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane continue to be away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
And the Reds may have to turn to fringe players like Takumi Minamino to make up the numbers.
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Liverpool assistant Pep Ljinders confirmed: “If we speak about Ox, we should first talk about his outstanding performance.
“He was very important for us, for the team, because he played in so many different positions, with a lot of quality.
“I spoke yesterday with him and he feels ok, not that bad, and he is really hoping that he will make the weekend.
“But tomorrow will be too soon. We will assess day by day.”
Ljinders also gave his thoughts on Arsenal getting Sunday’s derby against Spurs postponed due to a shortage of players.
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He added: “We had our own experience about this so it is difficult to judge from the outside.
“I fully respect the submissions because I 100 per cent trust the medical departments of each Premier League club.
“We need full trust in these decisions at the moment and whether it [a prolonged break] is an advantage, it showed against Leicester that there is no advantage.”