Liverpool are gearing up for their final Champions League group phase game of the season against Qarabag
Arne Slot has made some strange comments pre-Qarabag when discussing the Reds’ decline this season.
Liverpool have failed to win a Premier League clash in 2026, and their unbeaten run across all competitions has now come to an end.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
But there is a small glimmer of hope for fans, as the Merseyside outfit have performed better in Europe this season.
Liverpool beat Marseille 3-0 last time out and are now facing a Qarabag side who have never beaten English opposition.
Will Liverpool beat Qarabag and qualify for the last-16?
The Azerbaijani's have a poor record against English teams
Qarabag players line up for a squad picture before their UEFA Champions League match against Ajax at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Resul Rehimov/Anadolu).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Resul Rehimov/Anadolu
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Ahead of the tie, here’s what we spotted from the official Liverpool training photos prior to Wednesday’s encounter.
Andy Robertson all smiles despite Tottenham transfer blow
It emerged last week that Tottenham were looking to sign Andy Robertson from Liverpool.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
The Scotsman has seen his playing time reduced amid the arrival and upturn in form of Milos Kerkez.
However, Robertson’s transfer to Spurs has since collapsed, but rather than downing tools, the 31-year-old’s ‘professionalism has been noted’.
Now, in the pre-Qarabag training photos, the full-back has been pictured with a big smile on his face. It remains to be seen if he will start ahead of Kerkez.
Federico Chiesa back on the grass
Slot’s squad has been depleted in recent months, with Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez missing this week.
Federico Chiesa has also been absent for a couple of games after pulling out of the Marseille warm-up.
The Italian is not a regular starter, but he does offer some much-needed pace off the bench late in games.
Thankfully, Chiesa was pictured training with the remainder of the first-team squad ahead of this week’s fixture.
Liverpool youngsters train before Qarabag
Liverpool are set to be without Gomez, Konate, Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni on January 28.
Given there have been no senior signings made in the January transfer window so far, this has obviously left Slot with something of a threadbare team.
Calvin Ramsay is not included in the Champions League squad, which isn’t ideal given the problems at right-back currently.
But two more Liverpool gems, Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, were pictured in training this week.
Whether either will have any part to play remains to be seen, but Ngumoha in particular has looked sharp in his limited cameos off the bench this term.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox