Arne Slot will be down to the bones in defence for Liverpool's Champions League match at home to Qarabag on Wednesday
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Arne Slot head coach of Liverpool during a press conference at Anfield on January 27, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Arne Slot speaks during the Liverpool press conference at Anfield on January 27, 2026(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Arne Slot has confirmed Liverpool are down to one available senior centre-back for Wednesday's Champions League crunch clash at home to Qarabag. But the Reds boss is not expecting his defensive resources to be stretched further by the departure of Andy Robertson ahead of Monday's transfer window.
Joe Gomez will miss the game with the hip injury that forced him off when colliding with Alisson Becker during the first half of Saturday's 3-2 Premier League loss at Bournemouth
And while Gomez could return for the weekend encounter at home to Newcastle United, Liverpool will have only Virgil van Dijk as a recognised centre-back against Qarabag as they aim for the victory that will ensure direct progress to the Champions League round of 16.
Ibrahima Konate remains unavailable after the death of his father.
Asked if he had a timescale for Gomez, Slot said on Tuesday afternoon: "No, not really. But I can confirm that he's not available for tomorrow evening. I expect him back in a relatively short time.
"I have spoken to (Ibou). He's having a hard time but I'm hoping and expecting him back soon, but also not for tomorrow evening's game."
Wataru Endo made his first outing in more than six weeks when replacing Gomez for the last hour at the weekend, but Slot has hinted he is wary of overburdening the Japan international after such a lengthy spell out with Ryan Gravenberch another possibility at centre-back.
"He has been out with an injury for quite a long time," said Slot of Endo. "He had to play against Bournemouth for quite a long time. And now tomorrow a game coming up and three days later another game coming up.
"But that is not the only way I decide on my line-up. Tactics are involved in that as well. It is for sure that at centre-back tomorrow there will not be a centre-back.
"We can only play a midfielder there, because there are no centre-backs available apart from Virgil, who is one of the players I credit a lot for him being fit all the time. At his age, to constantly be ready to play another 90 is something we should not take for granted."
Robertson, who also came off the bench at Bournemouth, will again be in the matchday squad on Wednesday after Liverpool this week ended preliminary talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a permanent move.
"Robbo is part of the team tomorrow evening," said Slot. "And he's been part of this squad, of this club for so many years. And I'm happy to have him.
"It's good that he's available, because that's quite important for us at the moment to have players available. It's hard to say anything definitive in this world we are in, but I expect him to stay, yes."