Arne Slot is without Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Qarabag, meaning Ryan Gravenberch must line up in central defence.
The Reds welcome the Azerbaijani side to Anfield tonight knowing that a win will secure their place in the last 16 and avoid a two-legged knockout play-off tie.
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Liverpool currently sit fourth in the Champions League table after five wins and two defeats.
Slot remains without Konate for this game, with the Frenchman absent for Liverpool’s last two fixtures after the death of his father.
Wataru Endo was an option to deputise as a makeshift defender, with Gomez also absent after an injury suffered in Saturday’s last-gasp defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League, but Slot has instead opted to move the steady presence of Gravenberch from defensive midfield into the backline.
There, the Dutchman partners countryman and captain Virgil van Dijk, Slot’s only fit senior centre-back at present given summer signing Giovanni Leoni is out for the season with an ACL injury.
Alexander Isak has suffered a broken leg, while Conor Bradley is out for the season with a knee injury.
That leaves the Reds slightly thin on the ground in terms of numbers, but their quality should still shine through here.
Alisson remains in goal while Jeremie Frimpong, the only fit right-back in Bradley’s absence, continues his run in the side, allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to cover for Gravenberch in central midfield.
Andy Robertson starts despite transfer interest from Tottenham, replacing Milos Kerkez in the XI, while Florian Wirtz is deployed as the chosen No10 behind a front three of Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Ngumoha
Injured: Isak, Bradley, Gomez, Leoni
Unavailable: Konate
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Wednesday January 28, 2026
Venue: Anfield
How to watch: TNT Sports
