Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo could be set for an unusual starting role in Wednesday night\u2019s Champions League clash with Qarabag after two key defenders were missing from training.<\/p>\n
With Giovanni Leoni already ruled out for the season, Arne Slot\u2019s centre-back options have been stretched further in recent days. Ibrahima Konate has been away on compassionate leave following the passing of his father, while Joe Gomez picked up an injury in Saturday\u2019s 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth after colliding with Alisson Becker and was forced off in the first half. That situation left Slot with so few defensive alternatives that Endo was deployed as an emergency centre-back.<\/p>\n
Gomez and Konate miss training<\/p>\n
An update from Tuesday\u2019s session at the AXA Training Centre, provided by Paul Joyce of The Times via X, confirmed that both Gomez and Konate were absent as Liverpool prepared in Kirkby for the Qarabag fixture. Gomez is reportedly dealing with a hip issue, while Konate has yet to return from compassionate leave.<\/p>\n
Endo a contender for rare start against Qarabag<\/p>\n
Above all else, thoughts remain with Konate and his family during what is an incredibly difficult period, and his return will come whenever he feels ready.<\/p>\n
If neither Konate nor Gomez makes the matchday squad, Endo could once again be asked to fill in at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk. That possibility is strengthened by the fact academy defender Wellity Lucky has suffered a hamstring injury just days before the game.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old has played a limited role this season, logging just 297 minutes across all competitions \u2014 most of them in rotated Carabao Cup line-ups \u2014 and he has yet to feature in the Champions League (Transfermarkt).<\/p>\n
While using a midfielder in defence is far from ideal, Slot must carefully manage his resources with a crucial Premier League meeting against Newcastle looming just three days later. Liverpool still require a win over Qarabag to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16, but dropping points in Europe would be far less damaging than doing so in the league.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, Slot may opt to protect Gomez \u2014 particularly if his absence from training is significant \u2014 and focus on having him fully fit for the weekend rather than taking a risk on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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