Arne Slot is experiencing another Liverpool headache in the form of a key injury at right back.
The Dutchman has led his Premier League champions to a massive seven defeats in ten games in all competitions, and now the schedule is ramping up with seven matches in 22 games.
Slot's Liverpool are in dire form and injury issues have made matters worse
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Slot's Liverpool are in dire form and injury issues have made matters worseCredit: Getty
Speaking ahead of the first of those, a home visit from Nottingham Forest, Slot revealed Conor Bradley will miss the entire run.
“We do have some issues after the international break unfortunately, Conor Bradley is not able to play, Florian Wirtz is not able to play, so that’s far from ideal,” he revealed.
“Both muscle issues, I don’t expect Conor to be part of the upcoming 22 days, maybe after, but not during unless a miracle happens.
“Florian should be able to maybe play, it depends how things work but that maybe shouldn’t be that long.”
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To make matters worse, the only other natural right-back in the squad, summer signing Jeremie Frimpong, will also be unavailable.
Slot added: “Jeremie is already out, Giovanni Leoni, so at this moment we have five natural defenders available for seven games in 22 days and I don’t see anybody coming back before that.”
Right back has already been a problem area this season following the departure of academy product Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.
Frimpong, the £29.5million summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, has proved to be just as suspect defensively as his predecessor and so far hasn’t been trusted by Slot.
That’s led to Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai playing a series of matches at right back, despite being arguably the Reds’ player of the season from midfield.
Asked about his right-back options going forward, Slot said of Szoboszlai: “He’s doing so well in every position, he’s doing so well at right back, in midfield.
Szboszlai has been a rare constant during a tough start for Liverpool
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Szboszlai has been a rare constant during a tough start for LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Player Reason Potential Return Condition Status
Giovanni Leoni Knee Injury 03/08/2026 Not Available Ruled Out
Conor Bradley Other 13/12/2025 Not Available Ruled Out
Jeremie Frimpong Thigh Injury 06/12/2025 Not Available Ruled Out
Florian Wirtz Other 26/11/2025 Not Available Ruled Out
Alisson Becker Thigh Injury 22/11/2025 Passed Fit 100%
“Curtis Jones played there last season as well, Joe Gomez can play there, but he has played 90 minutes two times throughout 2025 so if we want to keep him available longer it’s a risk to play him seven times in 22 days.
“The good thing is we still have enough good players available and maybe one or two of them have to play in positions they normally don’t.”
There was some good news at least, with star goalkeeper Alisson Becker to return having not played since an injury in the Champions League against Galatasaray in September.
“Robbo [Andy Robertson] didn’t train for private reasons but he will be with us today,” Slot added.
“Alisson trained last week and this week so he will be able to play if things work out tomorrow again. If he’s ready to play then he will start.”
Easing Liverpool’s woes has been their record summer spend of close to £450m, with £126m Alexander Isak the biggest deal of the bunch.
Slot wants more game time for Isak
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Slot wants more game time for IsakCredit: Getty
Liverpool's road ahead
22/11: Nottingham Forest, Premier League (Home)
26/11: PSV, Champions League (Home)
30/11: West Ham, PL (Away)
3/12: Sunderland, PL (Home)
6/12: Leeds, PL (Away)
9/12: Inter Milan, CL (Away)
13/12: Brighton, PL (Home)
The former Newcastle striker has yet to take off despite breaking his scoring duck, but Slot isn’t surprised.
“That’s something we knew would be hard when we brought players in late into the season,” he said.
“It’s harder to keep them fit and then there’s a little more emphasis on the ones who have to play more in terms of what you ask from them.
“A variation in form is not only with the new signings but also with the players we have, always in a season they’re not in the same form.
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“The big issue we’ve faced and still face is the match fitness and time they’ve missed in pre-season.
“Alex now we were hoping he would play a little more for Sweden but he was one match away from being suspended so for obvious reasons they didn’t play him but for us it would’ve been better if he had some more minutes in the second game.”