Arne Slot faces a selection dilemma that encapsulates Liverpool’s season-long struggle with squad depth as he prepares for Wednesday night’s Champions League fixture against Qarabag at Anfield. With injuries and personal circumstances depleting his defensive options to crisis levels, the Dutch manager must deploy a midfielder at center-back while carefully managing the workload of players who have shouldered excessive burdens throughout a demanding campaign.
The Gomez Blow and Defensive Crisis
Joe Gomez‘s confirmation as unavailable due to the injury sustained against Bournemouth removes Liverpool’s most versatile defensive option at precisely the moment when such versatility would prove most valuable. The injury, suffered in a collision with Alisson Becker while attempting to prevent Evanilson’s opening goal, represented cruel timing given Gomez’s excellent recent performances when opportunities arrived.
Slot’s simple confirmation that “he is not available for tomorrow evening” carried undertones of frustration, as Gomez’s absence compounds existing defensive problems created by Ibrahima Konate’s continued absence for personal reasons and Giovanni Leoni’s long-term knee injury. The cumulative effect of these absences leaves Liverpool with just one natural center-back available in Virgil van Dijk, creating the unprecedented situation where a midfielder must partner the captain in central defense.
The manager’s admission that “it is for sure at centre-back tomorrow there will not be a centre-back, I can only play a midfielder there because there are no centre-backs available” stated the obvious reality while also highlighting how dramatically injuries have constrained his tactical options. This forced improvisation against European opposition, even against opponents of Qarabag’s caliber, represents far from ideal preparation for a match where securing automatic Round of 16 progression remains possible.
The Endo Consideration
Wataru Endo‘s deployment at center-back against Bournemouth provides the most obvious precedent for Wednesday’s selection, though Slot’s comments revealed concerns about whether repeating this approach represents the optimal solution. The Japanese midfielder’s first appearance since December 6, coming when he replaced the injured Gomez in the 34th minute, meant he completed nearly an hour of football in an unfamiliar position having not featured for seven weeks.
Slot’s observation that Endo “has been out with an injury for quite a long time, he had to play against Bournemouth quite a long time and now, tomorrow, there’s a game coming up and then three days later another game coming up” outlined the workload management challenge. Asking a player returning from lengthy injury absence to feature in three matches across eight days, particularly in a position requiring different physical and tactical demands than his natural role, creates genuine risk of breakdown or performance decline.
The manager’s additional comment that “that’s not the only way I decide on my line-up, tactics are involved in that as well” suggested he might deploy a different midfielder at center-back based on tactical considerations specific to facing Qarabag. Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, or even Alexis Mac Allister could theoretically fill this emergency role, each bringing different physical and technical attributes that might suit various tactical approaches.
Jones’s height and defensive awareness could make him a candidate, though his greater value lies in his creative midfield contributions. Gravenberch’s athleticism and ball-playing ability from deep positions might translate well to center-back duties, though removing him from midfield would deprive Liverpool of his box-to-box influence. Mac Allister has occasionally operated in deeper defensive roles for Argentina, though his smaller stature might create vulnerability against aerial challenges.
Managing Ekitike’s Workload
Hugo Ekitike‘s situation illustrates the challenge of managing individual player loads within the context of broader squad limitations. Slot’s explanation that the young striker “was out with an injury for two weeks and then he had to play quite a lot of games” acknowledged that Ekitike’s recent workload exceeded ideal levels for a player returning from injury.
The manager’s decision to start him on the bench against Bournemouth reflected load management priorities, recognizing that “with only one No.9 available for the upcoming months, it made sense to me to manage his load as well.” This observation highlighted the precarious situation created by Alexander Isak’s long-term absence, which leaves Ekitike as Liverpool’s only recognized striker across multiple competitions and the relentless fixture schedule.
Ekitike’s expected return to the starting lineup against Qarabag balances the need to rest him strategically against the reality that Liverpool require his goal-scoring threat to secure the victory that would guarantee automatic Round of 16 progression. The calculation involves determining when load management can occur without compromising competitive objectives, a balancing act that has challenged Slot throughout the season.
Chiesa’s Potential Return
Federico Chiesa‘s involvement in Tuesday’s training session provided encouraging news about his recovery from the minor issue that sidelined him for the previous two matches. While Slot offered no definitive confirmation of his availability, Chiesa’s participation in the eve-of-match session suggests he has overcome whatever problem prevented his recent involvement.
Chiesa’s potential return adds an attacking option that has been largely absent this season due to his persistent fitness struggles. The Italian winger’s inability to establish consistent availability has prevented him from making the impact Liverpool anticipated when signing him, with his contributions limited to brief substitute appearances and occasional starts that have rarely produced decisive moments.
Whether Slot includes Chiesa in the starting lineup or merely among the substitutes depends on both his assessed fitness levels and the tactical approach selected for this fixture. Against Qarabag, a team Liverpool should dominate regardless of selection choices, the temptation exists to provide Chiesa with minutes that could aid his ongoing integration while managing the workload of more established attacking players.
The Disciplinary Consideration
Curtis Jones‘s disciplinary situation adds another complication to Slot’s selection calculations. Standing one yellow card away from suspension for Liverpool’s next Champions League fixture, Jones faces the prospect of missing a potential knockout round play-off match should he be booked against Qarabag. This creates the difficult decision of whether to risk his involvement knowing that a caution would trigger absence from what could prove a crucial tie.
The safest approach would involve resting Jones entirely, eliminating any possibility of accumulating the suspension-triggering yellow card. However, Liverpool’s squad depth limitations mean that such caution might compromise their ability to field their strongest team for a match where victory would bypass the play-off round entirely, rendering Jones’s potential suspension irrelevant.
The Prize of Automatic Qualification
Liverpool’s assured progression to at least the knockout play-offs removes the pressure of needing results to avoid elimination, but the prize of automatic Round of 16 qualification through finishing in the top eight remains achievable with victory. This objective provides sufficient motivation to field a competitive team despite the temptation to rest key players given the quick turnaround before Saturday’s Premier League fixture.
Automatic qualification carries tangible benefits beyond merely avoiding two additional February matches. The teams bypassing the play-off round gain extra rest and preparation time while their play-off participants compete across two legs that inevitably extract physical toll and create injury risks. For Liverpool’s stretched squad, avoiding these additional fixtures while maintaining fresher players for domestic competitions would prove invaluable.
Qarabag’s Situation and Approach
Qarabag approach this fixture with their own qualification objectives, sitting 18th in the league-phase standings and requiring a positive result to secure their place in the knockout round play-offs. Their wholesale rotation for Saturday’s domestic defeat to Kapaz, making 11 changes, demonstrated prioritization of the Liverpool match while also providing clues about which players manager Gurban Gurbanov considers his strongest options.
The return of attacking midfielder Kady Borges to the bench after recovering from injury sustained against Chelsea in November provides Qarabag with additional creative options. However, Gurbanov’s realistic assessment that “this is a very difficult game that we’re entering” acknowledged the significant quality gap between the teams even as he expressed belief that his players would “show a very good game and play well.”
Kevin Medina and Matheus Silva’s disciplinary situations create parallel concerns for Qarabag, as both players risk suspension with yellow cards. Their dilemma mirrors Jones’s situation, requiring careful management to avoid bookings that would compromise subsequent matches.
Tactical Approach and Expected Dominance
Liverpool should dominate possession and territorial control regardless of personnel selections, creating the kind of match conditions where breaking down organized defensive opponents has proven challenging this season. However, Qarabag’s need for points might encourage more attacking ambition than typical opponents show at Anfield, potentially creating the spaces Liverpool exploit most effectively.
The makeshift defensive arrangements necessitated by injuries create some vulnerability should Qarabag create counter-attacking opportunities. A midfielder operating at center-back, regardless of who fills this role, will face tactical and physical challenges unfamiliar from their natural position. Liverpool must balance attacking ambition with defensive caution to avoid the kind of concentration lapse that has undermined them repeatedly this season.
Conclusion
Wednesday’s fixture presents Liverpool with opportunity to secure automatic Champions League progression while also testing their depth and adaptability during a period of defensive crisis. Slot’s selection decisions will reveal his priorities regarding workload management, tactical suitability, and the balance between achieving immediate objectives and preserving resources for upcoming challenges. The makeshift nature of Liverpool’s defensive arrangements ensures intrigue beyond what facing Qarabag might typically generate, as Liverpool navigate squad limitations that have defined their challenging campaign.
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The Liverpool FC Times Team
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