Liverpool adds player to Champions League squad with Arne Slot short of options

Liverpool is very short of options at center-back at the moment, with Arne Slot only having Virgil van Dijk available of his senior players in that position vs. Qarabag

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is facing an injury crisis(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Nineteen-year-old Amara Nallo could be on the bench for Liverpool in the Champions League as Arne Slot's side looks to confirm its place in the top eight spots against Qarabag.

Slot's side is incredibly short of defensive options with Virgil van Dijk the only senior center-back who is not set to be absent. Joe Gomez is injured, but shouldn't be out for too long, while Ibrahima Konate has not returned yet following the death of his father.

In addition to injuries at senior level, Wellity Lucky is expected to miss a couple of months with a hamstring injury. U21s boss Rob Page confirmed over the weekend that the teenager has suffered a "substantial" setback.

Nallo is now on Liverpool's B list of registered players, essentially meaning he can be involved. He has played in the Champions League before, coming on against PSV last season before immediately being sent off.

In October, Nallo was brought on against Crystal Palace in the League Cup. Once again, he was given his marching orders for a very similar foul, bringing down an attacker who was set to go through on goal.

In total, Nallo has played 16 minutes for Liverpool at senior level. In that time, he has been sent off twice.

Amara Nallo leaves the Anfield pitch after being shown a red card during the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace(Image: (Molly Darlington/Getty Images))

"I didn't need to say that much," Arne Slot said in reaction to Nallo's second red card. "Virgil immediately went inside to speak to him, to talk to him.

"That tells me they are great human beings. In a moment like this — when a young player, for the second time, is sent off — they felt how difficult the moment was.

"They [went] inside to be supporting for him. It wasn't needed that I [had to] take care of him. They already took care of him."

As a result of his inexperience, it is highly unlikely that Nallo will start for Liverpool against Qarabag.

Wataru Endo is the obvious pick, though Ryan Gravenberch could also drop in alongside Van Dijk.

"[Endo] has been out with an injury for quite a long time, he had to play against Bournemouth [for] quite a long time and now, tomorrow, there's a game coming up and then three days later another game [is] coming up," Slot said.

"As I also said, that's not the only way I decide on my line-up — tactics are involved in that as well. It is for sure at center-back tomorrow, there will not be a center-back, I can only play a midfielder there because there are no center-backs available."