Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace: why didn’t Trent Alexander-Arnold play, does he have Covid-19?

Trent Alexander-Arnold was absent for Liverpool's 3-0 defeat of Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

In total, Jurgen Klopp made six changes from Wednesday's 3-2 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League.

Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Naby Keita were all on target for the Reds as they moved top of the table.

Alexander-Arnold was due to start but was forced to pull out of the game due to illness, with James Milner filling in at right-back.

Before kick-off, Klopp revealed it is not Covid-19 that the defender has contracted.

The Liverpool boss said: "Trent was not planned. Trent woke up this morning feeling unwell.

"We just had to send him home. It's all fine, it's not Covid, we did tests and everything but he didn't feel well."

Robertson’s absence

Andy Robertson was also benched for Liverpool against Palace, with Kostas Tsimikas coming into the starting XI.

Klopp explained his reasoning.

He said: "Kostas makes sense. He's played well for us this season already.

"Robo has played a lot of games for us and Scotland in his legs and it makes sense."

Virgil van Dijk returned to the starting XI after being rested against Milan. Joe Gomez dropped out.

There was also a debut for Ibrahima Konate, who joined Liverpool for £36 million from RB Leipzig in the summer. Joel Matip was given a breather.

Sadio Mane also came in for Divock Origi after being omitted for the defeat of AC and Thiago replaced Keita in midfield.