Only 297 minutes played all season: Liverpool player may get a rare start as two Reds miss training.

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo could be set for a rare start in Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Qarabag, following two notable absences from training.

The Reds’ defensive options have already been hit hard this season. Giovanni Leoni is out for the year with a season-ending injury, and Ibrahima Konate has been away on compassionate leave after the death of his father. On top of that, Joe Gomez was forced off in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Bournemouth after a collision with Alisson Becker, prompting manager Arne Slot to use Endo as an emergency centre-back due to a lack of alternatives.

On Tuesday, Liverpool trained at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby ahead of the Qarabag match, but both Gomez and Konate were absent. Gomez missed the session due to a hip issue, while Konate is still on compassionate leave, according to Times journalist Paul Joyce.

With Gomez and Konate potentially unavailable for selection, Endo could be called upon to partner Virgil van Dijk in central defence, especially with academy defender Wellity Lucky sidelined by a hamstring injury. The 32-year-old midfielder has had a limited role this season, featuring for just 297 minutes across all competitions, mostly in Carabao Cup matches, and has yet to appear in Liverpool’s Champions League campaign.

While using a midfielder in central defence is far from ideal, Slot must balance the need to win against Qarabag with protecting his players ahead of the Premier League clash with Newcastle. A victory in Europe is important to secure direct qualification to the round of 16, but dropping points would be less damaging than failing to pick up three points against Newcastle. Given this, Slot may opt to rest Gomez, prioritising his fitness for the weekend over taking a risk in midweek.