Liverpool suffer huge injury blow as key player ruled out of Carabao Cup final vs Chelsea

Liverpool have suffered a huge injury blow ahead of this month's Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.

Liverpool face Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on February 25 for the first piece of silverware of the season.

And Jurgen Klopp will be without one of his key players for the clash against the Blues.

According to Paul Joyce, Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the showdown after aggravating an existing knee injury.

No timeframe has been set for the 25-year-old's return, but he is expected to be out of action for several weeks.

Alexander-Arnold was forced off injured during his side's 3-1 victory over Burnley in the Premier League last Saturday.

He was substituted at the break as Klopp made the decision to replace him.

The right-back suffered a lateral tear in Liverpool's FA Cup victory over Arsenal last month.

He made his second start since suffering the initial injury against Burnley, having returned to the fold against Norwich in the FA Cup.

Alexander-Arnold started Liverpool's Premier League defeat at Arsenal but was taken off after 58 minutes as a precautionary measure.

Trent Alexander-Arnold in action against Burnley. Image: Getty

Speaking after Liverpool's victory over Burnley, the German said: "He felt there [his knee]. He stuck in the grass. We will see, we need further assessment."

He added: "Same area in the knee. Nothing really bad, but he felt it again and we have to see, we have to assess it. Trent said it’s fine, but it’s not fine [because] he feels it so we had to be careful and took him off."

Joe Gomez or Conor Bradley, who has been on compassionate leave following the passing of his father, could deputise when Liverpool meet Chelsea at the end of the month.

Alexander-Arnold has made 29 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring two goals.

He set up Diogo Jota against Burnley and in doing so, he set the record for the most Premier League assists (58) for a defender.