Liverpool travel to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening facing a selection puzzle that epitomizes their season-long struggle with defensive depth and availability. Arne Slot‘s revelation that the club has deployed “six different right full-backs this season” captures the extent of disruption that injuries and suspensions have inflicted on what should be a straightforward positional assignment, creating tactical complications that have undermined consistency and forced repeated adaptation throughout the campaign.
Gomez’s Tentative Return
Joe Gomez‘s potential availability represents a welcome development for Liverpool’s defensive options, though the cautious nature of Slot’s update suggests his involvement remains uncertain. The manager’s explanation that Gomez “has not trained with us yet” as of Tuesday morning’s press conference, while expecting him to participate in that afternoon’s session for “the first time,” indicates the defender’s recovery from the Bournemouth injury has only just progressed to the point where full training becomes possible.
The timeline reveals how carefully Liverpool’s medical staff have managed Gomez’s rehabilitation, prioritizing complete recovery over rushing his return. The injury, sustained nearly two weeks ago during Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, clearly represented more than a minor knock requiring brief rest. The extended absence suggests either that the initial injury was more significant than publicly disclosed or that complications emerged during the recovery process that delayed his return to training.
Slot’s qualification that “if Joe is not ready to start then we are missing four players who have played in that position” provides stark illustration of Liverpool’s right-back shortage. The four players he references presumably include Conor Bradley (long-term injured), Jeremie Frimpong (currently sidelined with muscle injury), Dominik Szoboszlai (suspended for this fixture), and Gomez himself if unavailable. This litany of unavailability forces Liverpool into the makeshift solutions that have characterized their season.
The Six Right-Back Solutions
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Slot’s press conference came in his acknowledgment that Liverpool have utilized six different players at right-back this season. This extraordinary figure demonstrates the extent of disruption that injuries and tactical necessity have created in what should be one of the team’s most stable positions. The manager’s mention that “Curtis Jones and Wata Endo also played in that position this year” alongside the four natural options highlights how extensively Liverpool have improvised.
The six players who have featured at right-back presumably include: Conor Bradley (before his knee injury requiring surgery), Trent Alexander-Arnold (before his departure), Joe Gomez (when fit), Jeremie Frimpong (when available), Dominik Szoboszlai (in emergency situations), and either Curtis Jones or Wataru Endo completing the half-dozen. This constant rotation prevents the development of understanding and familiarity that comes from consistent partnerships, as whoever plays right-back must quickly establish communication and coordination with different center-backs, midfielders, and wingers depending on overall team selection.
The tactical implications extend beyond individual performances. Right-backs in modern football fulfill complex roles that require understanding when to advance to support attacks, when to maintain defensive position, and how to coordinate with teammates in various phases of play. Constantly rotating personnel in this position means these understandings must be rebuilt repeatedly rather than becoming automatic through repetition.
Szoboszlai’s Suspension Impact
Dominik Szoboszlai‘s one-match suspension following his red card in the dying moments of Sunday’s Manchester City defeat removes one of Liverpool’s most important midfield players for a fixture where his energy, pressing, and creative quality would prove valuable. The Hungarian’s dismissal, coming with Liverpool desperately pursuing an equalizer in stoppage time, represented understandable frustration manifesting in rash action that will cost his team his services when they could least afford further absences.
The timing of Szoboszlai’s suspension, coinciding with existing defensive injuries and the quick turnaround between Sunday’s defeat and Wednesday’s fixture, compounds Liverpool’s selection challenges. Slot must reconstruct his midfield without a player who has been integral to Liverpool’s better performances this season, forcing tactical adjustments that might disrupt patterns and understandings that have been developing.
Beyond his midfield contributions, Szoboszlai’s absence removes the emergency right-back option he has occasionally provided during Liverpool’s injury crisis. While not his natural position, his athleticism and tactical intelligence have allowed him to deputize competently when circumstances demanded. His unavailability means Liverpool have one fewer player capable of filling this problematic position.
Frimpong’s Continued Absence
Jeremie Frimpong’s ongoing unavailability due to the muscle injury sustained against Qarabag extends his latest spell on the sidelines and continues the pattern of persistent minor injuries that have prevented him establishing consistent availability this season. The muscle problem, serious enough to force his early withdrawal during what became a comfortable 6-0 victory, clearly requires extended recovery that rules him out of the Sunderland fixture.
Frimpong’s recurring fitness struggles raise questions about whether he possesses the physical resilience required for the Premier League’s relentless demands. While some players suffer unfortunate sequences of unrelated injuries, the accumulation of muscle problems specifically suggests either inadequate physical preparation, training methods requiring adjustment, or inherent susceptibility to such issues that might prove difficult to overcome.
His absence removes natural width and pace from Liverpool’s attacking options while also eliminating another potential right-back solution. The cumulative effect of his unavailability across the season means Liverpool have been unable to fully integrate him into their tactical system or develop the understanding with teammates that consistent selection enables.
The Long-Term Absences
The continued unavailability of Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Alexander Isak maintains the squad depth challenges that have characterized Liverpool’s season. Bradley’s absence following knee surgery that he underwent in December removes what should be Liverpool’s first-choice right-back, the young Northern Irishman who was positioned to claim that role following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure.
Bradley’s injury during what should have been his breakthrough season represents particularly cruel timing. The opportunity to establish himself as Liverpool’s long-term right-back solution appeared within reach before the knee problem derailed his campaign. His continued absence means Liverpool have been unable to develop the consistency in that position that successful teams require.
Giovanni Leoni’s anterior cruciate ligament injury continues its expected lengthy rehabilitation, while Alexander Isak’s recovery from ankle surgery progresses but remains distant from completion. These long-term absences, while anticipated in their duration, contribute to the overall depletion of squad depth that has forced Liverpool into the constant tactical adjustments and makeshift solutions that have undermined their consistency.
Sunderland’s Challenges and Strengths
Sunderland approach this fixture with their own squad challenges, missing Bertrand Traore and captain Granit Xhaka for the Liverpool encounter. Xhaka’s absence deprives Sunderland of their most experienced and influential midfielder, a player whose leadership and quality have been fundamental to their impressive home record that has seen them remain unbeaten at the Stadium of Light in league competition this season.
The positive news for Sunderland concerns Noah Sadiki, who was withdrawn during the second half of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal. Regis Le Bris’s confirmation that Sadiki is “good” suggests the substitution was precautionary rather than injury-enforced, maintaining his availability for Liverpool’s visit. Sadiki’s energy and ball-winning capabilities in midfield will be crucial if Sunderland are to disrupt Liverpool’s possession dominance and create the counter-attacking opportunities that represent their best chance of securing a positive result.
The debut of Nilson Angulo as a late substitute against Arsenal provides Le Bris with fresh attacking options. The winger’s deadline-day arrival from Anderlecht and the manager’s assessment that he is “ready to play” having “trained with us and played a lot of football this year at a good level” suggests he could feature more prominently against Liverpool. Fresh legs and the unpredictability of a player unfamiliar to Liverpool’s defenders could create problems, particularly if Sunderland can transition quickly into attacking positions.
The Captaincy Situation
Trai Hume’s assumption of captaincy responsibilities in Xhaka’s absence provides interesting context about Sunderland’s squad culture and values. Le Bris’s description of the defender as embodying the “working-class community” that Sunderland represents demonstrates the emotional and cultural dimensions that football club identities carry beyond mere sporting competition.
The manager’s praise for Hume as “really well balanced and intense, and a good example” who provides “good advice” and “good speeches before the game” suggests leadership qualities that extend beyond on-field performance. His teammates’ receptiveness to his guidance indicates genuine respect that cannot be manufactured through positional authority alone.
The Broader Context
Wednesday’s fixture represents opportunity for Liverpool to respond immediately to Sunday’s disappointing defeat to Manchester City, demonstrating resilience and maintaining pursuit of their season objectives despite the setback. However, the quick turnaround between fixtures, combined with the squad depth challenges that have plagued them throughout the campaign, creates genuine concerns about whether they can maintain performance standards while managing workload across their limited available personnel.
For Sunderland, hosting Liverpool while maintaining their unbeaten home record provides motivation beyond the points at stake. Proving they can compete with elite opposition at the Stadium of Light would validate their progress under Le Bris while potentially providing the confidence boost that could sustain their own season ambitions.
As both managers finalize selections constrained by unavailability and tactical requirements, Wednesday evening promises to test Liverpool’s depth, adaptability, and mental resilience following Sunday’s setback while challenging Sunderland to demonstrate that their home form represents genuine quality rather than fortunate scheduling.
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The Liverpool FC Times Team
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