Liverpool youth star sends clear message to Arne Slot after 100% ground duel dominance

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Liverpool have a player at the AXA Training Centre who is eager to showcase his ability to Arne Slot.

The Reds are facing an anxious wait on Ibrahima Konate, who was dismissed by France and returned to Merseyside following concerns regarding a quad injury.

Although they are hopeful the Frenchman will be fit to face Manchester United on Sunday, they have yet to learn the extent of the injury sustained during the 2-1 loss against Chelsea.

His potential absence would leave the Reds with only two senior centre-back options when club football resumes, and there are still question marks regarding Joe Gomez’s fitness.

Therefore, should the club find themselves requiring additional depth at centre-back, there is one academy starlet who could make the immediate step up to the first team.

Wellity Lucky dominates for Liverpool Under-21s

Wellity Lucky could be the Konate replacement should the Frenchman endure a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

The 19-year-old, who signed a three-year contract extension in July, has played a leading role in new Under-21s boss Rob Page’s side after being the subject of interest from top-flight clubs in Germany and Spain this summer.

Liverpool suffered a 2-0 loss against Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, but despite the disappointing result, Lucky stood out among his Under-21 teammates.

Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury has certainly complicated matters at Anfield, considering the Reds failed to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day.

It is clear that Slot wanted additional depth in central defence, and now the Dutchman is one more injury away from a potential crisis on Merseyside.

Indeed, a phenomenal performance against a League Two outfit is hardly enough to warrant a starting berth in the senior squad, but producing such a dominant display clearly indicates that Lucky is ready for the next step in his development.

While the Reds are more likely to select Wataru Endo to deputise in the backline should Konate be ruled out for Sunday’s clash, Lucky could be next in line to be promoted from the academy should he maintain this rich vein of form.

Arne Slot made to rue comments on centre-back depth

Once the dust had settled on the Guehi transfer saga, Slot was faced with questions regarding his public pursuit of the defender.

While the Liverpool boss admitted in his pre-match press conference ahead of the 1-0 win against Burnley that he would have liked the England international at Anfield, he downplayed suggestions that he lacks depth in the position.

“For me, we would have liked to sign him, of course, because we were in for him, but one or two days before, we played Arsenal, where Ibou (Konate) and Virgil (van Dijk) played an outstanding game, and Joe (Gomez) came in 20 minutes before the end and did outstanding as well.

“It’s not like all of a sudden we don’t have options. It’s a pity, not only for us but for the player, I think, but he’s in a good place playing at Palace. Let’s see what the future brings for him and for us.”

Now, just over a month since Slot made those comments, he does face a selection dilemma at centre-back.