Liverpool’s 13-game unbeaten run came to an end with a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday. The Reds have collected just four points from their last five Premier League matches and won only five of their last 18, dealing a blow to their top-four hopes.
Arne Slot’s side now turn their focus to securing a top-eight finish in the Champions League when they host Azerbaijani champions Qarabag on Wednesday.
Injuries have plagued Liverpool this season, with Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak, and Giovanni Leoni sidelined for extended periods. Joe Gomez’s fitness is also under assessment after a first-half collision with Alisson Becker at the Vitality Stadium.
The injury is not expected to be serious, but the length of his absence is still unclear. Slot said after the game: “Joe got a knock from Ali [Alisson Becker].”
“His knee went into… I think it was bone on bone. He was just not able to continue and Ali had quite a swelling in his knee. I don’t know if Joe is going to train in two or three days, that is difficult for me to say, but it was clear he could not go on today.”
Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool’s regular partner for Virgil van Dijk this season, remains on compassionate leave following the death of his father. The squad has suffered another setback as youngster Wellity Lucky is ruled out for at least two months with a hamstring injury, according to The Athletic.
The 20-year-old, part of Liverpool’s under-21 squad, has trained regularly with the first team this season and been on the Premier League bench five times. The centre-back made his senior debut in the 3-0 Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace in October.
While not a first-team regular, his injury, which has kept him out of the under-21s’ last two matches against Arsenal and Leeds, reduces Arne Slot’s defensive options on the bench.
Liverpool’s defensive depth is already stretched, with Bradley out for the season. Talks with Tottenham over a potential move for veteran left-back Andy Robertson have stalled, partly due to complications in recalling Kostas Tsimikas from AS Roma.
Despite these shortages, Liverpool are unlikely to pursue senior defensive reinforcements this month. Marc Guehi, previously close to joining in the summer, signed for Manchester City, with Liverpool opting not to match the financial terms.