This high-stakes Premier League encounter pits Arne Slot’s Reds—chasing a top-four spot and momentum in a competitive season—against a City side also nursing absences but looking to close the gap on leaders.
The news has exploded across social media and football outlets, with headlines screaming crisis at the back for Liverpool. Manager Arne Slot addressed the media in his pre-match press conference (Thursday, February 5), delivering sobering updates that highlight defensive vulnerabilities at the worst possible time.
The confirmed absentees include:
- Jeremie Frimpong — The summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, who has been a revelation at right-back/wing-back, remains sidelined with a groin/thigh injury picked up against Qarabag in late January. Slot confirmed he’s “not available for the weekend” and expects him out for a couple more weeks. His pace and attacking thrust will be sorely missed.
- Conor Bradley — The young Northern Irish right-back is out long-term following knee surgery. He’s ruled out for the remainder of the season, leaving Liverpool thin on the right flank.
- Giovanni Leoni — The teenage centre-back prospect suffered an ACL injury earlier in the campaign (September) and is sidelined for the entire season. While not a regular starter, his absence adds to the depth issues in defense.
- Alexander Isak — The Swedish striker, a big-money summer addition, is dealing with a long-term issue (groin-related) and remains unavailable. His goal threat up front would have been crucial against City’s backline.
These four are definitively out, with reports consistently pointing to a fifth key absence or major doubt amplifying the crisis:
- Joe Gomez — The versatile defender has been out since a hip injury from an accidental collision with Alisson during the Bournemouth defeat last month. Slot offered cautious hope: “We have hope he can train Saturday, maybe available to help in the game because we don’t have many defenders left.” However, he’s not expected to start and remains a major doubt—many sources list Liverpool as potentially without him entirely for the starting XI, pushing the tally to five key figures missing or severely limited.
Slot admitted the defensive shortages are acute: “We don’t have many defenders left.” With Frimpong and Bradley out, Gomez doubtful, and long-term issues for Leoni and others, Liverpool’s backline could look makeshift. Potential starters might include Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate at center-back, with shifts like Wataru Endo or academy options filling gaps—far from ideal against Erling Haaland and City’s attack.
This comes amid broader injury concerns for Liverpool, with up to 11-14 players at risk or out in various reports (including youngsters like Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic sidelined long-term). Slot has praised the squad’s resilience but acknowledged the challenge: the team has shown flashes of quality but needs everyone firing against a wounded yet dangerous City (who miss Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and possibly Bernardo Silva).
Social media is on fire with reactions. Liverpool supporters express worry—“This could be brutal at the back” and “Slot needs miracles”—while rivals pile on with memes about defensive woes. Neutral fans highlight the drama: a title/top-four decider hampered by injuries on both sides.
The match kicks off at 4:30pm GMT (5:30pm WAT in Lagos), and it’s a must-watch. Liverpool’s home fortress at Anfield could provide the edge, but missing five key players—especially in defense and attack—makes this one of the toughest tests of Slot’s tenure so far. Can the Reds rise above the crisis, or will City capitalize? The football world is watching closely.
