Arne Slot hints at creative Liverpool backline options amid defensive absences

Arne Slot says he could use a combination of academy players and creativity to solve Liverpool’s lack of defensive options ahead of the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton.

Andy Robertson’s red card against Fulham means he is unavailable through suspension, leaving the Liverpool manager with just four senior defensive options – Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Castle have been keen to rotate their players in this competition and will rest some of their key first team members to help steer them through the intense Christmas schedule. Van Dijk has played the most minutes of any Liverpool player this season (1890) and Alexander-Arnold the sixth most (1446).

Left-back James Norris and centre-back Amara Nallo are two academy players who have featured in recent games and could be involved, while Slot hinted at a potential surprise in the personnel of his back four.

“I am aware of the fact that we only have four defenders available and probably those who have started many times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not at all,” Slot told reporters during his pre-match presser. conference.

“It will either be academy players who get playing time, or players that no one would expect to see on the final line.”

Castle’s defensive options have been limited due to injuries to Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas. While the first two remain out, the Tsimikas are close to a return.

“Kostas is approaching,” said Slot. “He will train with us today, maybe for the first time, so let’s see how it works. Ibou (Konate) and Conor (Bradley) are still not training.”

The 2-2 draw against Fulham saw Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa return to the squad after both having been out injured for a number of months.

Both are expected to have the opportunity to build their fitness further tomorrow, provided they are fit. However, Jota was unable to train on Monday following his goal against Marco Silva’s side.

“Diogo would certainly have been someone who was ideal for him to play, but after the game he wasn’t quite fit so he didn’t train with us yesterday,” Slot said. “Let’s see if he can train with us today. Hopefully he can get some minutes, but I don’t expect him to start.

“(It’s) definitely a moment where he (Chiesa) can get minutes. The amount of minutes is a question mark. You can’t expect him to play 90, especially at this level where the intensity is so high because he’s been out for five or six months now. If he has a good training session, he’ll get minutes. If he starts or comes in and plays the second half, that’s something we’ll have to make a decision.”

Caoimhin Kelleher returns in goal and it will be a chance for the likes of Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott to get valuable game time as well. The former has started both Carabao Cup games, while Elliott is building match fitness after an injury lay-off.

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