Injury Challenges Ahead of Liverpool’s Match Against Qarabag

omidbasir- Joe Gomez, currently sidelined with a minor injury, and Ibrahima Konate, who has missed the last two matches due to personal matters following the passing of his father, will be absent for Wednesday’s game. This situation compels manager Slot, who previously acknowledged the difficulty of acquiring a senior player before the transfer window closes, to consider starting a player in an unfamiliar position for the center-back role.

During Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Slot was queried about the possibility of defensive midfielder Wataru Endo stepping into the center-back position, given his previous experience. The Dutch coach responded, “He has been recovering from an injury for quite some time. He played against Bournemouth for an extended period, and now we have another match tomorrow, followed by another three days later. Tactics play a vital role in my decision-making, and it is evident that we will not have a traditional center-back available. I will need to utilize a midfielder in that position due to the lack of available center-backs.”

Slot continued, praising Virgil van Dijk’s reliability, stating, “He is one of the players I commend for his consistent fitness. At his age, being able to participate in 90 minutes continuously is something we should not take lightly. Regarding what I deem ‘acceptable,’ I believe that if we can enhance our performance in both defensive and attacking phases, we have the potential to achieve success this season. However, if we only improve in one area, our chances of winning will be significantly diminished.”

Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been one of Liverpool’s standout players this season, has been deployed as a right-back in recent matches. Slot hinted that Szoboszlai may need to assume that role again due to the current defensive reshuffle. “As I mentioned, I consider him for nearly every position! We will see how things unfold. Jeremie Frimpong is available to play as a full-back but can also be utilized as a winger. However, I also have Mo Salah for the right wing. Therefore, I have multiple options, including Dom and Curtis Jones, which gives us flexibility at right-back. Nevertheless, we both concur that Dominik is most effective in the midfield, and that consensus is mutual between us!”

Despite the challenges defending their Premier League title, Liverpool currently occupies a respectable fourth place in the Champions League standings, trailing only Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. Qarabag, regarded as a surprising contender this European season, sits 18th and is nearing a place in the knockout rounds.

When asked for his insights on this resilient Qarabag team, Slot remarked, “Ultimately, it’s the individual players who pose challenges. Their playing style is characterized by directness, with swift players making aggressive runs toward goal and exhibiting comfort on the ball. They have demonstrated their capabilities this season against prestigious clubs—since all teams in the Champions League are formidable—which makes them a tough competitor. Even against Chelsea, they managed to secure a draw at 2-2.”

“Reflecting on our Champions League journey this season, some teams may have been fortunate to face opponents who are now outside the qualification zone. We have consistently faced strong competition and performed admirably. However, it is worth noting that scheduling conflicts with our league matches may have presented challenges due to the intensity of facing such high-caliber teams in Europe.”