Image Credits: Imago Images
Arne Slot has explained why Joe Gomez has remained on the bench despite Liverpool’s ongoing issues at right-back.
Liverpool are facing a selection crisis on the right side of their defence, with both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong sidelined for a significant period due to hamstring injuries.
Although Gomez has been in the matchday squad, he was an unused substitute in the last two matches.
Dominik Szoboszlai filled in at right-back during last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, while Curtis Jones was asked to cover the position in Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
Slot insisted that Gomez could start at the London Stadium on Sunday but revealed that concerns over Ibrahima Konate’s fitness influenced his decision not to use the England international in midweek.
“He’s close,” said the Dutchman at his pre-West Ham press conference on Thursday.
“He could have been involved yesterday as well in terms of minutes. But when we are 2-1 or 3-1 down, I tend to make offensive substitutions.
“And for him to start a game is also definitely a possibility. But [Ibrahima] Konate didn’t train two days before the game, he was a bit of a [risk] two days before.
“Then if you don’t have that many defenders to start with, two players that might not be able to play the whole 90, that’s kind of a risk as well.
“I decided to keep him there for if Ibou was injured and not to have to make two substitutions, because then we probably would have ended up with one or two defenders.”
When asked whether he may try a new tactic against West Ham on Sunday, Slot added: “You consider everything.
“Until now I have decided differently but they train with us every single day and they can prove themselves in those moments. It is always a balance.
“If you don’t change people think you should change more and there was a period this season where we lost and I made a few changes and people complained I changed too much and there was never any time the same team.
“Of course, I consider (changes) but I can’t tell you what the end product of that consideration is for Sunday.”
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