Liverpool's defensive injury crisis worsened on Wednesday night as Jeremie Frimpong limped off just minutes into the Champions League tie against Qarabag at Anfield. The Dutch right-back clutched his groin and asked the Qarabag winger to put the ball out of play after only two minutes, before being replaced by Wataru Endo.
Manager Arne Slot was already without Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley due to injuries, forcing him to start midfielder Ryan Gravenberch at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk. With Frimpong's departure, Slot was left with only two specialist defenders on the pitch: Van Dijk and Andy Robertson. Gravenberch remained at centre-back, while Endo, also a holding midfielder, came on at right-back.
Slot had hinted in his pre-match press conference that he was considering using Endo in defence due to the injury crisis. Speaking about the Japan international, Slot said: 'He's been out with an injury for quite a long time, he had to play against Bournemouth quite a long time and now, tomorrow, there's a game coming up and then three days later another game is coming up.'
The manager added: 'It is for sure at centre-back tomorrow there will not be a centre-back, I can only play a midfielder there because there are no centre-backs available.' Slot praised Van Dijk for his consistent fitness, noting that 'constantly being ready to play another 90 is something we should not take for granted.'
