Wellity Lucky of Liverpool looks on during a Liverpool Training Session at AXA Training Centre on December 08, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)placeholder image
Wellity Lucky of Liverpool looks on during a Liverpool Training Session at AXA Training Centre on December 08, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool are set to have depleted options when they face Qarabag in the Champions League.
The bare bones can be a phrased that is exaggerated in football. But Arne Slot would be forgiven for using the expression. Liverpool are truly stripped to the wire when it comes to defensive options.
Virgil van Dijk is set to be the Reds' only recognised centre-back to face Qarabag. It's hardly idea considering that Liverpool require a victory to guarantee their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Reds will understandably give Ibrahima Konate as much time as he requires following the passing of his father. There will be no rush for the centre-back to return from France as he's been given compassionate leave.
But the injury that Joe Gomez suffered in the 3-2 loss at Bournemouth was unfortunate. Liverpool's longest-serving player's issue resulted from Virgil van Dijk's mistake for the Cherries' opening goal, with Gomez colliding with goalkeeper Alisson Becker trying to stop Evanilson from scoring.
In addition, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are unavailable and won't play for the rest of the season because of their respective knee injuries.
In usual circumstances, clubs may look to the under-21s to help ease the load. Granted, it is Wataru Endo likely to deputise again, having come off the bench at Bournemouth. But some more depth on the bench against Qarabag may be required.
There is another centre-half registered in Liverpool's UEFA squad who is eligible to face the Azerbaijan outfit at Anfield. Wellity Lucky was added to the set-up before a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro where he was an unused substitute. Lucky is named on List B, which permits clubs to register an unlimited number of youth players born on or after 1 January 2004, provided they have been eligible to play for the club for a specific, uninterrupted period (two years since age 15, or three consecutive years).
However, Lucky cannot be called upon against Qarabag. The 19-year-old has sustained a hamstring injury, meaning that he faces a spell on the sidelines. Lucky will be unavailable for at least two months, according to The Athletic.
In addition, Endo is not long back from an ankle injury that kept him out for more than a month. The midfielder was an unused substitute three times before he came off the bench against Bournemouth.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot said on Endo: “He has been out with an injury for quite a long time. He had to play against Bournemouth for quite a long time. And now tomorrow a game coming up and three days later another game [against Newcastle United] coming up.
“As I also said, 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. They can only play a midfielder over 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, constantly be ready to play another 90 is something we should not take for granted. Coming back on what is acceptable for me, I can say if we improve in both boxes, I think we are able to win something this season. If we only improve in one box, it is going to be really difficult to win something this season.”
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