Liverpool, facing Qarabag in the final round of the Champions League group stage, is dealing with serious squad problems. Head coach Arne Slot spoke about the difficulties in the defense line at the pre-match press conference.
Idman.Biz reports that the Dutch specialist said that it may be inevitable to play a midfielder alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defense. This is due to the simultaneous absence of key central defenders.
Ibrahima Konate has not yet returned to the team due to family reasons related to the death of his father. Joe Gomez, who was injured in the thigh area in the match against Bournemouth, will not be able to play in the match against Qarabag. Although Slot hopes that Gomez will return to the line-up relatively soon, this will not be enough for the crucial match at Anfield.
In addition, Giovanni Leoni has been unable to help the team for a long time. For this reason, Arne Slot is faced with a choice: either play Wataru Endo or Ryan Gravenberch in the central defender position alongside Virgil van Dijk.
It should be noted that this game is of particular importance for Liverpool. The team's direct qualification for the Champions League 1/8 finals is not yet fully secured, and the result may directly affect summer transfer plans.