Liverpool have been dealt two major defensive blows with Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold set to be sidelined for he next few weeks with injuries.
Both players were selected to Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI for for the weekend’s Premier League loss to Arsenal, where Alexander-Arnold was blamed for both of the Gunners’ first-half goals.
The right-back then suffered a nasty-looking injury as Gabriel Martinelli hit his ankle with the follow-through from a cross, however he was able to finish the first half after receiving treatment.
However, Klopp introduced Joe Gomez into the fray after Alexander-Arnold was taken off the field at halftime, and Matip was another casualty of the 3-2 loss at the Emirates.
The Cameroonian centre back was replaced by Ibrahima Konate in the 69th minute of the game, and according to The Athletic, neither player’s condition has improved.
According to the report, Matip has a calf injury that will take two weeks to heal, while Alexander-Arnold will be out for a similar period of time due to an ankle injury.
As a result, the two defenders will miss Wednesday’s Champions League match against Rangers as well as Sunday’s top-flight match at Anfield against Premier League champions Manchester City.
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With Matip out, Konate is likely to play with Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the defence against Rangers and Manchester City, while Gomez is expected to fill in for Alexander-Arnold.
The injuries to Matip and Alexander-Arnold are the latest in a string of setbacks for Liverpool, who have also lost forward Luis Diaz until after the World Cup owing to a knee injury suffered against Arsenal.
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