Liverpool boss Arne Slot faces a potential selection dilemma ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League encounter with Qarabag after Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez were both missing from Tuesday’s training session at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby. The Reds need victory in their final opening stage fixture at Anfield to secure a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the last 16.

Gomez was forced off in the opening 45 minutes of Saturday’s 3-2 Premier League loss at Bournemouth after sustaining a hip injury in a collision with goalkeeper Alisson Becker whilst trying to prevent Evanilson’s opening goal. Konate, meanwhile, has been sidelined for Liverpool’s previous two matches and continues to be on compassionate leave following his father’s passing.

With teenager Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the campaign after undergoing ACL surgery, Virgil van Dijk was the sole fit senior centre-back at the training ground.

Wataru Endo was introduced from the substitutes’ bench at Bournemouth to partner Van Dijk for most of the match and is now in line to deputise once more, whilst Andy Robertson represents another potential alternative. Wellity Lucky’s long-term injury means he will not make his Champions League debut.

However, there was some encouraging injury news for Reds manager Arne Slot as Federico Chiesa participated in the session having sat out the last two fixtures after pulling up during the warm-up ahead of last week’s Champions League tie at Marseille.

Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak were still unavailable as they continue their recovery from long-term injuries.