Liverpool will face Qarabag in their final game of the league phase of the Champions League and Arne Slot will only have Virgil van Dijk to select from in terms of recognised centre-backs
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Joe Gomez of Liverpool goes off injured during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Joe Gomez picked up an injury against Bournemouth(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool will field a makeshift defence in their Champions League clash with Qarabag. Reds boss Slot also expects Andy Robertson to remain at the club until the end of the season.
Liverpool head into Wednesday's match with only one recognised centre-back who's available: Virgil van Dijk. That's due to injuries to Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni, while Ibrahima Konate is also sidelined following the death of his father last week.
"No timescale but I can confirm he's not available tomorrow," Slot replied when asked about Gomez. "I've spoken to Ibou and we know he's having a hard time. I'm hoping him back soon but not for tomorrow."
Waturo Endo is therefore set to slot in alongside Van Dijk when the Reds welcome Qarabag to Anfield in their final game of the league phase. A win would guarantee Liverpool a place in the last 16, in turn avoiding the play-offs next month.
"He's been out a while and come back, and tomorrow a game coming up and Saturday another," Slot said of Endo. "For sure at centre-back tomorrow there will be someone who isn't a centre-back, apart from Virgil. It'll be a midfielder or somewhere else. Virgil's ability to play 90 [minutes] should not be taken for granted."
The Liverpool manager was also asked about Robertson's future after Anfield chiefs were in talks to sell him to Tottenham. Robertson, 31, is in the last six months of his contract and hasn't played regularly ahead of captaining Scotland at the World Cup this summer.
But due to Liverpool being unable to recall fellow left-back Kostas Tsimikas from his season-loan at Roma, the deal is currently off. "Robbo is part of the team tomorrow evening and has been part of this squad for so many years," Slot stated.
"We are happy to have him, good that he's available. It's hard to say anything definite in this world we are in, but I expect him to stay (this month)."
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andy Robertson of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on January 27, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Tottenham want to sign Andy Robertson(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Robertson could be named in Liverpool's starting XI but Slot won't rotate too heavily, as Qarabag did at the weekend. "I wasn't able to do what the Qarabag manager did by changing 11 players ahead of this game," Slot added.
"It's not a worry that I have a small squad but it's a difficulty. I'd have preferred to have started [Hugo] Ekitike against Bournemouth but with only one nine available for the coming months, it made sense to manage his load. Giving Jeremie Frimpong another 90, it would have been a big risk to keep him on.
"I have to emphasise the respect for the players we have. It's almost constantly the same players who have to play, when we lose we get scrutinised and criticism we deserve. They are constantly available apart from the three we have (out injured)."