Liverpool is without a host of defensive options through injury and suspension and January addition Jeremy Jacquet, who will arrive in the summer, is now also sidelined
11:13, 10 Feb 2026
Jeremy Jacquet of Stade Rennais FC during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Lens and Rennes
Jeremy Jacquet suffered a fresh injury over the weekend for Rennes(Image: Emilian Baldow/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Arne Slot couldn't help but reference Jeremy Jacquet's injury as Liverpool's absentee list grows even longer.
The Reds are without a number of players at present, with Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley long-term absentees. Jeremie Frimpong is also absent, while Dominik Szoboszlai will miss the trip to Sunderland after his red card against Manchester City.
Slot is desperately short of defensive options, although there was some positive news with Joe Gomez expected to train on Tuesday. Liverpool did sign Jacquet at the end of the transfer window but he will remain with Rennes until the end of the season.
READ MORE: Defender who rejected Liverpool now free agent as Arne Slot needs reinforcementsREAD MORE: Rennes releases official statement after Jeremy Jacquet transfer and injury blow
The defender has suffered a shoulder injury of his own with the French club and in his pre-match press conference, Slot was asked about the bad luck that seems to be cursing Anfield right now.
The Reds boss said: "It feels like we have been unlucky. Even if we sign a player and he isn't playing for us, he gets injured!
"The moment you start to feel it is all bad luck, it probably comes to you. We should focus on what we can do to improve things.
"The amount of times we have conceded late goals in extra time is far more than usual. Is it bad luck or are we to blame? I have tried many different things and the ball went in. I can definitely say we haven't been unlucky."
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Slot could turn to Curtis Jones or Wataru Endo to play at full back against Sunderland, with Calvin Ramsey another option despite his lack of game time.
The Dutchman added: "If Joe is not ready to start, we are missing four players who have played in that position this season. We have had six different right full backs."
Liverpool could find itself further adrift of the Champions League places going into the game, should Chelsea and Manchester United pick up wins on Tuesday. And an Everton win over Bournemouth will see Slot's men drop to seventh.
He accepts that his side cannot afford too many more defeats if they are to end the season in Europe's premier competition.
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Slot added: "We will need to be close to perfection because of the points we are behind. It is different when you are four points behind 18th or 19th in the league because usually they don't pick up as many points.
"To close the gap to those teams above us means we have to win a lot and we haven't done that so far this season. We have to be better. Margins are very small because we were five points behind City with a few minutes left on Sunday and now we are 11 behind."