Liverpool confirm major injury blow ahead of Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal fixtures

Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for around three weeks after the defender suffered a knee injury during Sunday's 2-0 FA Cup third round win at Arsenal.

Alexander-Arnold played the full 90 minutes at the Emirates but was spotted limping in the tunnel after full-time. Liverpool face Fulham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday an assistant manager Pep Lijnders confirmed the right-back has suffered ligament damage in his knee.

"Trent hyperextended his knee in the game, there is a tear in the lateral ligament," Lijnders told reporters. "He will be out for probably three weeks.

"It is a big blow, one of most important players, he is always decisive. Even in bad spells he took the balls to make the difference. Hopefully three weeks and with a winter break..."

A three-week absence will see Alexander-Arnold out until around January 30, meaning he will almost certainly miss both legs of Liverpool's Carabao Cup tie against Fulham. Jurgen Klopp's side then face Chelsea on January 31 and Arsenal on February 4, therefore a late call will need to be made for those two fixtures.

The injury comes as a major blow to Liverpool, who have already lost Mohamed Salah for the month due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. Between them, the pair have registered 16 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League.

Lijnders has called on other members of the squad to step up in the absence of Liverpool's most influential pair. "We have many weapons, Mo goes away, [Diogo] Jota steps up. If the best players aren't there and we play well - like the second half v Arsenal - that is a good sign. We don't rely on one or two, we are missing probably four or five in terms of Robbo [Andy Robertson], Trent, Mo...

"Trent plays passes the forwards like and he knows how to decide games and knows where the put the balls but the squad has other qualities if you ask me. Alexis [Mac Allister] or Wataru [Endo] in the No.6, we have to find different dynamics. If Jota is a striker or [Darwin] Nunez, it is different so we find solutions, but this squad has so much talent and power. We always say as long as counter-pressing there everything else can be replaced."