The Azerbaijan outfit were spotted at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Qarabağ FK were pictured arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Qarabağ FK were pictured arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport(Image: Liverpool John Lennon Airport)
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Qarabağ FK have been been been pictured arriving in Liverpool ahead of their Champions League game against the Reds tomorrow night. The Azerbaijan outfit will take on Liverpool FC in the final game of the group stages in Europe's elite competition on Wednesday evening.
The match kicks off at 8pm as Arne Slot's side will aim to bounce back from a disappointing defeat against Bournemouth to try and secure automatic progression into the last 16. Liverpool are currently fourth in the Champions League and a win would ensure they avoid a playoff game.
Qarabağ are currently in 18th place and will be hoping to secure their progression into the playoff. If the team lose they could still finish outside the top 24 places and exit the competition.
Ahead of the big game tomorrow, Qarabağ FK have been captured arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The squad arrived in Merseyside on a jumbo Azerbaijan jet.
Footage shared by the airport showed the flight landing and the squad exiting the aircraft, including manager Gurban Gurbanov.
Qarabağ FK arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Qarabağ FK arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport(Image: Liverpool John Lennon Airport)
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Slot spoke to the media today as he addressed criticism around the squad's inconsistent form this season. He said: "I think it’s going to be really difficult to quiet the outside noise with the position we are in in the league so even if we win a few games, every loss or every disappointing result will start the noise coming back again."
The head coach goes into tomorrow night's game with a much depleted squad.
He has been criticised for some of his selections and substitutions of late. Against Bournemouth, he started his only fit striker Hugo Ekitike on the bench and took off first-choice left-back Milos Kerkez at half-time and his other full-back Jeremie Frimpong after an hour despite not having a like-for-like replacement.
Addressing the criticism, he said: "I have to adapt the system or put players in different positions.
"Taking Jeremie off, no-one would complain if I brought in a similar player but I had to end the game with four defenders where only two were real defenders.
“That does not help with the narrative. That I am completely aware of. Before people say I don’t listen to performance staff or medical staff, I am listening and sometimes I make my own decisions.
“I speak to my players and know how they feel and if they are ready to go again for 90 minutes. For people who don’t have all the information, that could lead to scrutiny. I am aware of that.
“If you are not aware of the information it is not strange to criticise decisions but if people knew the struggles we and I are facing, they would be more understanding of the decisions I make.”
Liverpool return to action at Anfield tomorrow when they take on Qarabag at Anfield at 8pm