'Looks like': £34m Liverpool player seems to have picked up a knock early on in Carabao Cup final - journalist
Yesterday at 01:15 PM
Liverpool face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, with Dan Burn firing the Magpies ahead just before the break.
The newly-called-up England international fired Newcastle ahead with a well-placed header to put Liverpool behind heading into the second-half, with the Reds far from their best at Wembley Stadium this afternoon.
With Jarrel Quansah filling in for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool went into today’s game without the best starting XI, with the England international’s absence noticeable down the right-hand side for the Anfield side.
And to make matters worse for Liverpool, Mohamed Salah was spotted picking up a knock in the opening half for Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah went down with a knock vs Newcastle
As reported by the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle, Salah was seen going down in some pain in the first half alongside Alexis Mac Allister, with the journalist posting: “Salah looks like he’s picked up a bit of a knock and Mac Allister was just floored for a bit. Burn the man involved in both instances.”
Although both players were able to see out the half, Newcastle’s physical approach to the game has taken Liverpool by surprise, with the Reds failing to really get going despite getting the ball into some promising areas.
Indeed, Arne Slot will be desperate to win today’s Carabao Cup final having this week crashed out of the UEFA Champions League by the hands of PSG, who eliminated Liverpool after a dramatic penalty shootout at Anfield.
And had Liverpool lost Salah to injury already against Newcastle, the Toon would have been confident in getting a historic result against the Reds at Wembley Stadium, with the Egyptian international arguably the best player in the world right now.
Liverpool’s first-half numbers vs Newcastle are a concern
Liverpool’s first-half performance against Newcastle was not one to write home about, with the Reds failing to have a single shot and not threatening Nick Pope in the Magpies goal at all during the opening 45 minutes.
| Liverpool | Liverpool vs Newcastkle United first-half stats | Newcastle United |
| 55% | Possession | 45% |
| 0.00 | Expected goals | 0.66 |
| 0 | Total shots | 9 |
| 0 | Big chances | 3 |
| 8 | Fouls committed | 6 |
| 1 | Corners | 6 |
And as per the main stats from the first-half, Liverpool went into the break arguably second-best, with Newcastle lacking that extra bit of quality in their finishing to take the lead and to give the Reds a major setback.
Liverpool know they have to be better if they’re to reclaim their Carabao Cup title, and Newcastle will be smelling blood heading into the second-half after such an impressive opening 45 minutes in the English capital.
