Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold was ruled out of his side’s 3-1 win over Burnley at half-time with a knee injury.
Klopp’s side returned to the top with a win over the Clarets in front of a record crowd at Anfield after Manchester City were dumped out of the Premier League earlier in the day. In the 31st minute, Alexander-Arnold scored the hosts’ first goal, with Diogo Jota nodding in to give Liverpool the lead and the record. Alexandre-Arnold, who helped Portugal break the deadlock, registered his 58th Premier League assist – more than any other defender in the competition’s history.
But the right-back’s afternoon was cut short as he failed to make the second half, with Harvey Elliott replacing him, raising a second injury alert.Alexander-Arnold has missed weeks of the 2024 clash with Arsenal with knee hyperextension, with Klopp confirming after the game that the defender had felt pain in the area.
Alexander-Arnold insisted he would still be available, but Klopp told Sky Sports News he did not want to take any chances with Liverpool’s vice-captain. “The same area exists in the knee.” It’s not a bad thing, but he felt it again and we have to look at him and judge.”
“Trent said it was fine, but it wasn’t fine because he could feel it, so we had to be careful and get him out,” he said.
Liverpool attempted a counter-attack with Dara O’Shea’s header in the 45th minute, and Alexander-Arnold scored a goal to draw the Clarets level just before half-time. In a match dominated by air quality, two more headers in a Liverpool shirt decided the game in the Reds’ favor as Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunes broke the deadlock at James Trafford.
Around 60,000 fans (59,896 to be exact) were in their seats to witness the Reds’ success thanks to Anfield’s extended road stand, and Klopp was stunned to see Liverpool make history on Merseyside. “Okay, oh! I saw it before I heard it and thought it was special. It looks very special.
“This stadium has gone from strength to strength,” Klopp added. “It’s always been great, but now it’s really cool. Very great, very great, on time and hard work. “I know there were some difficult moments and it was a difficult game to be alert… But everything is fine and I’m very happy to have him back. “A lot of people will have the opportunity to watch this great team play football.”
Liverpool begin Premier League action next weekend and have a week to recover from their heroics at Burnley before traveling to Brentford at lunchtime on February 17.
