Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement facing familiar Liverpool question after 'tough' admission

Newcastle United have been intrinsically linked with Jarell Quansah's development at Liverpool and will be so again at Wembley in League Cup final

Jarell Quansah may still be in the formative stages of his Liverpool career. But already one rival club has continually appeared at important moments in the development of the central defender.

Now, once again, Newcastle United will play a key role in another landmark stepping stone for Quansah.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold having limped off in the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday evening to join Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez on the sidelines, Quansah is now in line to start the League Cup final against the Magpies on Sunday at Wembley.

Of course, it was at Newcastle back in August 2023 that Quansah was surprisingly thrust into a senior debut from the bench as, with Virgil van Dijk earlier dismissed, Liverpool came from a goal behind to earn an unlikely 2-1 victory.

That was the first-team opening the Academy graduate needed, Quansah subsequently bursting through the door to end the campaign with 33 appearances, an outing as substitute in the League Cup final win over Chelsea and having usurped Ibrahima Konate as first-choice partner to skipper Van Dijk.

Quansah's form was such that he earned a place in England's provisional squad for Euro 2024, after which Newcastle enquired about signing the player in a move that would have seen Anthony Gordon switch to Anfield.

Liverpool's confidence in the defender was such the notion of him leaving was dismissed out of hand, with Quansah then sufficiently impressing new Reds boss Arne Slot during pre-season to retain his starting role for the Premier League opener at Ipswich Town in August.

It was there, though, that matters began turning in the opposite direction for Quansah, the centre-back the subject of the first real statement of intent from Slot when substituted at half-time with the scoreline goalless. With Konate restored alongside Van Dijk, Liverpool went on to win 2-0.

Quansah hasn't started another Premier League game at centre-back since, although he has lined up there for six of seven domestic cup games - although he was forced off after just half-an-hour through sickness in the League Cup semi-final first leg loss at Tottenham Hotspur - and two Champions League opening stage matches.

Indeed, his only other top-flight start this campaign was also the only match of his career where he has began at right-back - the 3-3 draw at Newcastle in December where, after being given a serious test by Gordon, he played the final quarter at centre-back.

"I am not going to sit here and say it’s easy,” said Quansah earlier this season. “It is always tough. But it is all about how you prepare, putting yourself in the best mindframe and physical condition. It is not easy when you are not in the team but you need to do everything you can for the team. Keep pushing."

That attitude meant Quansah was able to hit the ground running when replacing the stricken Alexander-Arnold on Tuesday, winning a corner with his first contribution and shortly afterwards coming as close as anyone to putting Liverpool through when hitting the inside of the post with a diving header.

And it continued a quiet trend, with the England under-21 international having now featured in 14 of the Reds' last 20 matches after being unused for all bar four of the opening 19.

With Gordon banned for Newcastle, Quansah is instead likely to come up against Harvey Barnes on the flank. But whoever is in opposition, the youngster has the confidence of his defensive colleagues.

“It’s a season where Jarell can learn each and every day,” said Van Dijk in January. “He’s a fantastic young player and can only get better. He’s in a great place to learn and when he gets the opportunity to play, he just has to show his qualities and play with confidence."

Wembley, then, appears the perfect showcase for Quansah to show he can still turn a tough season into a personal triumph. And, inevitably, it's Newcastle who will be the barometer.