Arne Slot faces the most defining week of his Anfield tenure as he prepares to lead a depleted Liverpool into the heat of a Merseyside derby. What was once billed as a victory lap for the defending Premier League champions has spiraled into a scrap for pride and Champions League survival.
Following a staggering £450 million summer rebuild, few could have predicted the Reds would be entering the final stretch of the season trophyless.
The midweek 4-0 aggregate dismantling at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain has snuffed out the final flame of hope for silverware, leaving Slot under intense scrutiny from a disgruntled section of the Anfield faithful.
With a trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium looming on Sunday, it’s a new ground for the Toffees in the heat of the Merseyside Derby.
Regardless of the new surroundings, Liverpool also hasn’t tasted victory since 2021 on the road in such a tense contest, and the Dutchman’s task has been made infinitely harder by a “brutal” injury list that has claimed 17-goal talisman Hugo Ekitike.
Here is the full injury breakdown ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Hugo Ekitike – Achilles
The biggest blow to Liverpool’s hopes is the loss of the Frenchman, who ruptured his Achilles tendon during the PSG second leg. With 17 goals in an impressive debut season, Ekitike is now ruled out for the remainder of the campaign and France’s World Cup quest.
Slot’s View: “It is devastating for Hugo. He hasn’t been operated on yet. First thoughts are with him being out for such a long time, missing out on so many special moments. He will come back stronger, I am 100 per cent sure.”
Joe Gomez – Muscle
The versatile defender’s return against PSG lasted just 22 minutes. Slot confirmed on Friday that Gomez will play no part in the derby to avoid a long-term risk.
Slot’s View: “Joe is not available. He said to me, ‘I’m not convinced if I can keep sprinting,’ so it is better to not take the risk. He will be assessed again next week.”
Alisson Becker – Hamstring
Liverpool’s No. 1 remains sidelined, though the player himself has suggested he could be back sooner than Slot’s cautious estimates. The Brazilian goalkeeper has missed the past four games because of a hamstring injury. Ahead of PSG, Slot admitted that Alisson still had not trained. The expectancy is that the Brazilian might be back towards the end of the month.
Slot’s View: “He is working very hard but he is not training with the team yet. We hope to have him back in the near future, but he will not perform this Sunday.”
Jayden Danns – Hamstring
The striker suffered terrible luck on his return to action for the under-21s last month. Danns had to be forced off in the 29th minute of a clash against Man City, after many a month in the treatment room.
Reds U21s boss Rob Page has come out to soften fears that Danns would be out for a long time again, but Liverpool will have to err on the side of caution when it comes to the tricky 20-year-old.
While there was talk of the youngster filling the void left by Ekitike, Slot confirmed the youngster isn’t quite ready for the intensity of a Merseyside derby.
Slot’s View: “Jayden has been so unlucky. I’d really like him to be back, but the reality is that he’s not on the bench for us this weekend.”
Wataru Endo – Ankle
The Japanese captain hasn’t featured since February’s 1-0 win over Sunderland. While his Liverpool season is over, the focus is now on getting him fit for the World Cup in June.
Conor Bradley – Knee
The right-back is still recovering from surgery following ligament damage sustained against Arsenal in January. He isn’t expected back until pre-season.
Giovanni Leoni – ACL
The summer signing from Parma remains a long-term absentee after his cruel debut injury back in September. He is ruled out until the 2026/27 campaign.
| Player | Injury | Status | Potential Return |
| Hugo Ekitike | Achilles (Rupture) | Surgery pending; out for the season | 2027 |
| Alisson Becker | Hamstring | Training individually; nearing return | May 3 (vs Man Utd) |
| Joe Gomez | Muscle | Ruled out for the derby | April 25 (vs Crystal Palace) |
| Wataru Endo | Ankle (Ligaments) | Recovering from surgery | June (World Cup) |
| Conor Bradley | Knee (Ligaments) | Post-surgery rehabilitation | Pre-season (July 2026) |
| Giovanni Leoni | ACL (Knee) | Long-term rehab; back on grass | 2026/27 Season |
| Jayden Danns | Hamstring | Returning to fitness via U21s | May 2026 |
| Stefan Bajcetic | Hamstring | Long-term absence; multiple setbacks | N/A |
Stefan Bajcetic – hamstring
It has now been nearly 11 months since the midfielder’s season-long nightmare began while on loan at Las Palmas. After undergoing surgery for a complex issue, Stefan Bajcetic has been plagued by a series of frustrating setbacks that have kept him in the treatment room rather than on the pitch.
Consequently, he has yet to make a single appearance at any level this term, leaving his return to action shrouded in uncertainty.
The task at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is now crystal clear. Slot must find a way to patch together a frontline capable of breaking a four-year hoodoo on enemy turf, all while navigating a nervy defensive situation without the calming presence of Alisson Becker.
With a disgruntled section of the support growing louder, the Dutchman’s future may well depend on his ability to conjure a result from a squad down to its bare bones.
In the furnace of a Merseyside derby, excuses about the medical room carry little weight; only points do.
