Can PSV benefit from Arne Slot’s worries at Liverpool? ‘5 defenders for 7 matches in 22 days’

There are a few busy weeks ahead for Liverpool, who play Nottingham Forest on Saturday, PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday and then five more matches in quick succession, culminating in Brighton on December 13. After that there is actually a week without a midweek game The Reds.

Year-old Peter Bosz (62) is not allowed a whipped cream cake from the food coach, but he does receive a ‘gift’ from the PSV injury corner

That period starts with two new injuries as a result of the international break. “Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz cannot play. That is far from ideal,” Slot said at the press conference on Friday.

The wash has become thin, especially in the rear. “Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni have been out for some time, so at the moment I only have five fit defenders at my disposal for seven games in 22 days. And I don’t think any of the injured will return before then.”

Left backs versus right backs

Of those five, two are left backs with Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez. With Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez, Slot still has three central defenders available. The problem therefore mainly lies in the right back, although Gomez has also played there in the past. But there is another problem surrounding the experienced Englishman. “He has only played ninety minutes twice in 2025. If we want to keep him available longer, it is risky to field him seven times.”

So Slot should not look to his midfielders for the first time to fill that position, such as Dominik Szoboszlai. “He plays well in every position. As a back and as a midfielder. Curtis Jones also played at right back last season, he is also an option there.”