Arne Slot Forced Into Tactical Gamble as Liverpool Eye Champions League Progress Amid Injury Crisis

Liverpool rarely do things the easy way on European nights, and under Arne Slot, that tradition looks set to continue. As the Reds prepare for a decisive Champions League clash against Qarabag at Anfield, the Dutch head coach has openly acknowledged that necessity, rather than experimentation, will drive one of his boldest selection calls yet: deploying a midfielder at centre-back.

With injuries piling up and transfer activity effectively ruled out before the window closes, Slot is staring at a defensive puzzle that offers no perfect solution. What follows on Wednesday night will be a blend of pragmatism, trust, and a little improvisation — all in pursuit of a place in the Champions League last 16.

Arne Slot Admits Midfielder Will Fill Centre-Back Role for Liverpool

Speaking ahead of the Qarabag fixture, Arne Slot did not attempt to soften the reality of Liverpool’s situation. Simply put, the options at centre-back are alarmingly thin. Joe Gomez is sidelined with a minor injury, while Ibrahima Konate remains unavailable after missing the last two matches due to personal reasons following the death of his father.

That leaves Virgil van Dijk as the only senior, recognised centre-back fit for selection. Slot was quick to underline how remarkable that consistency is, especially given the Dutchman’s age and workload, but he also made it clear that van Dijk cannot be expected to carry the entire defensive line alone.

“As things stand, there will not be a centre-back playing next to Virgil,” Slot admitted candidly. “I can only play a midfielder there because there are no centre-backs available.”

It was a statement delivered without drama, but it underlined just how stretched Liverpool’s resources have become at a crucial point in the season.

Liverpool Injury Crisis Leaves Slot With No Transfer Safety Net

Compounding the issue is the club’s stance in the transfer market. Slot has already confirmed that Liverpool are highly unlikely to sign a senior defensive reinforcement before the window shuts. For a club long praised for strategic patience in recruitment, that approach now carries obvious risk.

The absence of Gomez and Konate is not expected to be long-term, but timing matters. The Champions League does not pause for recovery timelines, and Liverpool know that a win over Qarabag would secure automatic qualification to the round of 16. Failure to do so would complicate an already congested calendar.

Slot acknowledged that team selection will not be based purely on availability, stressing that tactics and physical condition still matter. However, the reality is that his hand has been forced. Liverpool’s injury crisis has removed flexibility, leaving the manager to rely on versatility rather than specialists.

Wataru Endo and the Question of Playing Out of Position

One of the names immediately raised was Wataru Endo. The Japanese international has experience operating at centre-back earlier in his career and possesses the positional discipline Slot values. Yet even that option comes with caveats.

Endo has only recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff and was asked to play significant minutes against Bournemouth. With another game just days away, Slot was careful not to commit to using him again in a demanding defensive role.

“He’s been out for quite a long time,” Slot explained. “We also have another game coming up very quickly. These things matter.”

That measured response summed up Slot’s wider dilemma. Every solution creates a new problem. Every adjustment risks exposing another weakness. In that sense, the choice of midfielder at centre-back will be less about ideal fit and more about who can cope best under pressure.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s Versatility Becomes Crucial Again

If there is one player who embodies Slot’s trust in adaptability, it is Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian has arguably been Liverpool’s standout performer this season and has already been deployed at right-back in recent months when circumstances demanded it.

Slot did little to rule out another positional switch, joking that Szoboszlai could be considered for “almost every position.” While Jeremie Frimpong offers a natural full-back option, his ability to play higher up the pitch complicates the balance, particularly with Mohamed Salah occupying the right wing.

Slot laid out the logic with refreshing honesty. Including players like Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones in deeper roles suddenly gives Liverpool more options, even if it means moving their most influential midfielders away from where they are most effective.

Crucially, Slot was clear on one point: both he and Szoboszlai agree that midfield is where the Hungarian does his best work. Any defensive role would be a temporary sacrifice, not a long-term experiment.

Arne Slot Balances Short-Term Fixes With Long-Term Ambition

Beyond the immediate selection headache, Slot used his press conference to zoom out and reflect on Liverpool’s broader ambitions. He spoke about the importance of improving “both boxes” — defending and finishing — if the club is to seriously challenge for silverware this season.

Improve only one, he warned, and the margins become unforgiving.

That comment felt telling. It suggested a manager who understands that makeshift solutions can get you through a night or two, but not through an entire campaign. Slot knows Liverpool’s defensive depth will need addressing, even if the current window passes without action.

Qarabag Pose Tricky Test Despite Anfield Advantage

While much of the focus has been on Liverpool’s problems, Slot was careful not to underestimate Qarabag. The Azerbaijani side have been one of the quieter success stories of this Champions League campaign, sitting 18th in the standings and pushing hard for a place in the knockout play-offs.

Slot described them as direct, fast, and fearless in possession — a team comfortable attacking space and running in behind. He pointed to their 2-2 draw with Chelsea as evidence that they are capable of unsettling Europe’s elite.

In a competition where Liverpool have already faced a demanding run of opponents, Slot suggested that the intensity of European fixtures may even have had knock-on effects domestically. It was not an excuse, but a reminder of the fine margins involved when a squad is stretched.

A European Night Defined by Adaptation

For Liverpool, Wednesday night is about more than qualification. It is a test of adaptability, trust, and collective responsibility. Playing a midfielder at centre-back is not ideal, but it is sometimes in these compromised moments that teams reveal their character.

Arne Slot is not pretending otherwise. His honesty has been striking, his approach pragmatic. With Anfield behind them and a place in the last 16 within reach, Liverpool will hope that flexibility, rather than familiarity, is enough to carry them through.

If it works, it will be remembered as a clever stopgap. If it does not, it will only intensify questions about depth and planning. Either way, it is shaping up to be a Champions League night that captures the essence of Liverpool under Slot: bold, imperfect, and unafraid to adapt when circumstances demand it.