Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win against Fulham after goals in the first half from Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah gave them three precious points, but the victory came at a cost as Arne Slot faces a tactical headache ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second-leg.
Liverpool’s hopes of a Champions League comeback against Paris Saint Germain have been dealt a significant setback with Curtis Jones and Alisson Becker both expected to miss the Anfield showdown.
Liverpool’s season, as Arne Slot so candidly put it during Saturday evening post match press conference, has become defined by a frustrating pattern of “not surprised” regarding the treatment table.
While the 2-0 victory over Fulham at Anfield snapped a demoralising three-match losing streak and injected a much-needed dose of optimism into the fan base, it has left the Reds medical department working overtime.
With Paris Saint-Germain arriving on Merseyside this Tuesday, holding a daunting 2-0 aggregate lead, the Reds must now attempt one of those famous European comebacks without two of their most stabilising influences.
A groin concern for Curtis Jones
The most immediate concern surrounds Curtis Jones. The midfielder, who has increasingly become the connective tissue in Slot’s engine room, was forced off late in the first half against the Cottagers.
Despite the rhythm he was helping to establish, the Scouser was replaced by Ryan Gravenberch, leaving the Anfield faithful sweating on his availability.
Slot, never one to hide behind ambiguity, offered a grim assessment of the situation after the final whistle.
He felt a little bit in his groin. It wasn’t a moment, he felt it already for a few minutes,” Slot explained. “Let’s hope for the best, but I would be surprised if he is available for Tuesday.”
For Jones, it is a cruel blow. Having grown into moments rather than merely occupying them this season, his ability to carry the ball through pressure would have been vital against a PSG midfield that thrives on high-intensity transitions.
The Alisson absence
The headache extends to the opposite end of the pitch. While fans had hoped for a late boost regarding Alisson Becker’s hamstring recovery, Slot moved quickly to extinguish any lingering fires of hope. The Brazilian remains sidelined, leaving Liverpool to face the French champions without their number one goalkeeper
“Tuesday I don’t expect him. He’s not training with the team yet,” Slot confirmed. “But he’s working very hard on his recovery, so we hope to have him back in the near future. But he doesn’t train with the team yet, so he will not be performing Tuesday.”
The lack of Alisson alters the very texture of how Liverpool build from the back. Without his composure and distribution to slow the game down, the Reds may find the pace of PSG’s counter-attacks even more unforgiving. It is a situation Slot admits has become the “new normal” at the AXA Training Centre.
“I would almost say ‘welcome to our season’,” Slot lamented, reflecting on the absences of Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong, and Conor Bradley. “Every time after we win, or something good happens, there is always an injury following it up, but it is a win and that is what we should be really happy about.”
Ngumoha’s ‘Special’ spark and the Anfield factor
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom in the Liverpool camp. The Fulham victory provided a glimpse into the future through the lens of Rio Ngumoha.
The teenager, whom Slot has described as a “special” talent, was instrumental in breaking the deadlock alongside Mohamed Salah.
Ngumoha’s fearlessness combined with more vital minutes in the legs of the returning Alexander Isak provides the edge Liverpool need if they are to overturn the 2-0 deficit. Slot is leaning heavily on the psychological power of the stadium to bridge the gap left by his injured stars.
“The fans will be behind us and the players will give everything they have to turn things around,” Slot insisted. “I can tell you we are up for it, we’re ready for it, and Anfield will be ready for it.”
The task remains gargantuan. Turning over a two-goal lead against the French champions is a tall order in any context, let alone one missing the spine of the team.
But as Fulham discovered, this Liverpool side still possesses the ability to control games through positional discipline and sheer grit. On Tuesday night, they’ll need that and a little bit of Anfield magic more than ever.
