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The Liverpool boss admitted that he is worried about two defenders ahead of the Premier League clash against Fulham.
Arne Slot has declared that his squad is the healthiest it has been this season.
With Alexander Isak back available, Liverpool will have only three senior outfield players unavailable for the Premier League clash against Fulham. Given that the Reds head coach finds himself under significant pressure, a mitigating factor has perhaps been the injuries the squad has endured this season.
In truth, only Conor Bradley is a regular starter among the outfielders sidelined. Wataru Endo has been a bit-part player during Slot’s tenure, while Giovanni Leoni is just 19 and was never expected to play week in, week out. Granted, the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is a miss, but Georgi Mamardashvili displayed his capabilities in the drab 2-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain.
In truth, Slot has little margin for error in the remaining six weeks of the campaign. Given how meek Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has been, along with a sobering 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals and a poor performance at PSG in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, significant sections of supporters are calling for Slot to be removed from the Anfield dugout.
It appears that owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) will give Slot until at least the end of the campaign. To remain in situ, Champions League qualification must be achieved. If Liverpool fail to finish in the Premier League top five, then FSG will have a decision to make.
While all eyes might be on the second leg against PSG, the showdown against Fulham at Anfield should not be underestimated. Slot has failed to beat the Cottagers in three attempts, while Liverpool head into the game on the back of three successive losses.
Fulham have also had the luxury of not playing for three weeks. While there is an argument that Marco Silva’s side might lack some rhythm, they will certainly be fresher than a Liverpool outfit who have faced two of Europe’s elite clubs following the international break.
While Slot will have options to select from, familiar problems linger. The right-back position has been an issue throughout the campaign and will continue. Slot’s wing-back system against PSG proved futile, and he deployed both of his right-sided options in Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez.
The pair have had well-documented fitness problems this term. Frimpong has been plagued by hamstring issues since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, even suffering a scare while on Netherlands duty last week. Gomez, meanwhile, has had recurring injury problems over the past few years.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot admitted he is concerned about the duo. "It's right that, compared to the whole season, this is the best period when it comes to player availability," said the head coach.
"But if I go into my office and look at my list, I see three defenders injured: a right-back in Conor Bradley, a centre-back in Giovanni Leoni, and a player who can play at centre-back in Wataru Endo. And some of the players I’m worried about again for tomorrow are Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez."
Therefore, it casts doubt on whether either Frimpong or Gomez will feature from the outset against Fulham.
Therefore, Slot may make the controversial decision to start Dominik Szoboszlai as a makeshift full-back once again. Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s best performer for much of the campaign, although his best position is in midfield. However, given the lack of options, he could again be forced to play out of position. He has already operated in the rearguard on 10 occasions.
The other option is for Curtis Jones to be deployed in defence. The 25-year-old has played there three times this term, as well as in a 3-2 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage last season.
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