Adding to Slot’s concerns, Liverpool injury list expands as player withdraws from international duty. Latest setback adds to the Red’s growing defensive woes.
After a blistering start to the season with five wins in as many games, Liverpool’s season has suffered a setback. Three losses on the trot has left Arne Slot’s men exposed. A Champions League loss against Galatasaray came in sandwiched between league defeats to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
Dropping down to second on the table, these losses have come on the back of shaky defensive displays. Ibrahim Konate was withdrawn midway through the Chelsea game, with Slot revealing a ‘quad’ issue.
Quiz: Name the team Liverpool signed these players from in the 2010s
Liverpool injury list expands after latest setback
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Confirming via their website, Liverpool have revealed that Wataru Endo has withdrawn from international duty with Japan due to injury.
The 32-year old defensive midfielder is not a regular starter under Slot but got game time against Chelsea. Coming on as a sub he replaced Mac Allister late in the fixture. The player has experience operating as a centre-back, an area which is witnessing a severe shortage in manpower.
Virgil Van Djik and Joe Gomez are the only available senior centre backs with Slot. The Dutchman choosing to use Gravenberch instead of opting for Gomez after Konate’s injury shows the lack of trust. Therefore shifting Endo into that role might have been the go to move.
Depending on the length of his absence, Konate could soon be joining fellow centre-back and new signing Giovanni Leoni in the recovery room. The 18-year old Italian having picked up an ACL injury in his first outing for the Reds.
However the Japan FA’s Monday announcement put a spanner into any such plans. The Liverpool midfielder had been picked by his nation to participate in the Kirin Challenge Cup matches against Paraguay and Brazil.
