Joe Gomez has been confirmed to miss the upcoming match following the injury he sustained during last weekend’s defeat to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. Manager Slot announced at his pre-match press conference that Gomez is not available for selection, adding to the team’s challenges as they cope with the absence of other key players.
Ibrahima Konate is unavailable due to personal reasons, while Giovanni Leoni is sidelined with a knee injury. Given these circumstances, Slot emphasized the need for one of his available players to step into the centre-back position.
Wataru Endo, who recently made his first appearance for Liverpool since December 6 after replacing Gomez in the 34th minute against Bournemouth, is expected to take on that role again. Slot acknowledged Endo’s prior injury and fitness concerns, noting, “He had to play against Bournemouth for quite a long time and now there’s a game coming up, and then three days later another game.”
The manager pointed out that while tactical considerations are important, the current player availability will dictate that a midfielder must fill in at centre-back, given that no natural centre-backs are available for selection. This situation presents an opportunity for the squad to adapt and demonstrate their versatility as they look to bounce back from recent results.