Liverpool have added academy centre-back Amara Nallo to their Champions League squad for Wednesday’s visit of Qarabag due to a lack of defensive options.
With Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate unavailable, Virgil van Dijk is the only recognised senior centre-back, prompting the inclusion of 19-year-old Amara Nallo from List B.
The youngster has made two senior appearances for the Reds, both ending in red cards, and will add depth as up to 12 substitutes are permitted in the competition.
Arne Slot has also been hit by a setback with Wellity Lucky sidelined for two months due to a hamstring injury, while Giovanni Leoni remains out long-term.
As a result, Liverpool are expected to field a makeshift centre-back alongside Van Dijk, with Wataru Endo, Andy Robertson or Ryan Gravenberch among the options.
Speaking ahead of the match, Slot admitted his lack of defensive choices, praising Van Dijk’s durability while conceding a midfielder is likely to fill in at centre-back.
He said: “It’s for sure that 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 — apart from Virgil, who is one of the players I credit a lot for being fit all the time. At his age, constantly being ready to play another 90 minutes is something we should not take for granted.”
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