Liverpool's defensive resources have been dealt another significant setback with the news that promising young defender Wellity Lucky is expected to be sidelined for approximately two months due to a hamstring injury.
Another Blow for Slot's Defensive Plans
The injury to the 20-year-old Spain-born England youth international comes at a particularly challenging time for manager Arne Slot, who is already contending with multiple absences in his defensive line. Lucky, who made his senior debut for the Reds in October's 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace, had been featuring regularly as an unused substitute in Premier League matches this season.
Youth League Standout Sidelined
Although not expected to break into the starting lineup imminently, Lucky's absence removes a valuable squad option and further depletes Liverpool's defensive depth. The young defender had been impressing in this season's UEFA Youth League campaign, demonstrating his potential for future first-team involvement.
The timing of this injury, as initially reported by The Athletic, is particularly unfortunate as Liverpool are currently without four senior defensive players, creating a genuine selection headache for Slot ahead of crucial fixtures.
Compounding Existing Defensive Absences
Liverpool's defensive crisis has been building throughout the season, with several key players facing extended periods on the sidelines:
- Joe Gomez was forced off during Saturday's 3-2 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth following a collision with goalkeeper Alisson Becker
- Ibrahima Konaté missed the Bournemouth fixture after the passing of his father and his availability remains uncertain for upcoming matches
- Giovanni Leoni, the summer signing from Parma, suffered an ACL injury on his debut in September and has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign
- Conor Bradley has seen his season ended prematurely by a knee injury sustained during the goalless draw at Arsenal
Midfielders Providing Defensive Cover
With defensive options severely limited, manager Arne Slot has been forced to consider unconventional solutions. Wataru Endo, who replaced the injured Gomez at Bournemouth, may be required to fill in at centre-back if necessary, while Ryan Gravenberch has previously been deployed in defensive positions by the Dutch manager.
Transfer Window Developments
Despite the mounting defensive injury crisis, Liverpool are not currently expected to pursue additional defensive reinforcements during the January transfer window. Left-back Andrew Robertson, who had been subject to initial discussions about a potential move, is now anticipated to remain at Anfield rather than joining Tottenham Hotspur.
Kostas Tsimikas continues his loan spell at Roma, while former transfer target Marc Guéhi has since completed a move to Manchester City after his proposed summer switch to Liverpool collapsed at the final stage.
The absence of Wellity Lucky represents another layer of complexity in what has become a testing period for Liverpool's defensive unit, with manager Arne Slot needing to navigate these challenges while maintaining competitive performances across multiple competitions.
