Coach reveals injury concerns ahead of Champions League night
Arne Slott discusses squad limitations and injuries ahead of Liverpool’s game against Qarabagh
Liverpool boss Arne Slott says injuries and a small squad have forced them to make tough choices ahead of their Champions League clash with Qarabag.
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Slott under pressure ahead of Anfield test
Liverpool boss Arne Slott was speaking ahead of the Reds’ Champions League tie against Qarabag on Tuesday evening, scheduled to be played at Anfield in the eighth round of the 2025/26 season.
Slaughter acknowledged that some players were disappointed with his selection decision, explaining that injuries and a heavy schedule had limited his options.
Slott did not name any players in his comments, although Mohamed Salah has previously expressed frustration at not starting in certain games.
Injury issues and defensive issues
Slaughter confirmed defender Joe Gomez will be unavailable and there is no firm return date yet.
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He also talked about Ibrahima Konate, saying that the French center back is going through a difficult time and is not ready for the Qarabag game.
On Andy Robertson, Slott said the Scotland international is part of the squad and hopes he will remain at the club this month, despite speculation surrounding his future.
The coach also warned that Liverpool could once again be forced to use out-of-position players in defense, with only Virgil van Dijk being a natural centre-back fully fit for the game.
‘The noise won’t stop unless we improve’
Slote spoke of the mounting pressure over Liverpool’s poor Premier League form, saying criticism is inevitable for a club hoping to compete for trophies.
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He explained that Liverpool’s passing between the two penalty areas was good, but the team had major problems at critical moments.
Slaughter said the Reds must improve their ability to convert chances into goals while also preventing opponents from creating easy scoring opportunities.
He called the current balance clearly flawed, adding that it would continue to create “noise” unless outcomes improved.
Slott admits he cannot rotate as freely as Qarabag’s coach, pointing out that Liverpool’s squad is smaller than last season.
He gave the example of managing forward minutes, explaining that with only one natural center in the coming months, he would have to be careful with his decisions.
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He also said players like Jeremy Frimpong can’t always play full games due to physical risks, and reiterated that injuries have made the season more demanding.
Slaughter stressed that even if fans disagree with his choices, they don’t always see the full extent of the difficulties the coaching staff faces behind the scenes.
Sloter asked why Liverpool looked more consistent in European competition than domestic competition. He said there wasn’t much difference in level, but competing in both events presented serious challenges.
