Liverpool Dutch manager, Arne Slot, has expressed his side’s readiness for the final League Phase match between the Reds and Qarabag FK on Wednesday night in England.
The Reds, who are inconsistent in their outcomes in all competitions this season, will welcome the Azerbaijan Premier League Club, for the Uefa Champions League 2025/26 final preliminary on Wednesday 28 January, 2026 at 21:00 (WAT).
Slot described Qarabag FK as a “direct and fast” side, saying, they are always focused on goal, and loaded with “players who are comfortable on the ball”.
Liverpool will be heading into the continental clash with a low morale after falling to AFC Bournemouth 3-2 in the Premier League match at Vitality Stadium on Saturday 24 January, 2026.
Following the loss to the Cherries, Liverpool dropped below top four (4) of the table, sitting currently on the sixth position with thirty-six (36) points, one (1) point behind Chelsea and two (2) points trailing Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, who are fourth.
The former Feyenoord coach said, Scottish left-back, Andy Robertson, will be in action for the Reds when they take on their Azerbaijani visitors at home.
On Dominik Szoboszlai taking a role at the back, Slot said, he considers the Hungarian player “for every position almost!” The Dutchman added, Egyptian forward, Mohamed Salah, will take the right wing.
According to the official website of Liverpool FC, at his pre-Qarabag press conference, Slot said:
On the future of Andy Robertson:
“Robbo is part of the team tomorrow evening and he’s been part of this squad, of this club for so many years. Happy to have him, good that he’s available because that’s something that’s quite important for us at the moment. Yeah, he will be part of the team and nothing happened from my side.”
On what Liverpool needs to achieve this season to lessen the pressure:
“I think it’s going to be really difficult to quieten the outside noise with the position we are in in the league. Even if we win a few games, every loss or every disappointing result will start the noise coming back again.
“I think in between the boxes we are a very, very, very good team. So, in the box we have to improve. If we can improve in both boxes, we can do very special things this season.”
On Qarabag’s style of play:
“It’s always the individuals and the players that make things difficult. In terms of playing style, they are very direct, fast players, go very direct towards goal with a lot of runs in behind, players who are comfortable on the ball.
“They’ve shown this season against big clubs that they are a very good team and a hard team to beat.”
On Dutch defender, Van Dijk:
“Virgil [van Dijk] is one of the players I credit a lot for him being fit all the time. At his age, constantly being ready to play another 90 is something we should not take for granted.”
On considering Dominik Szoboszlai for a right-back role against Qarabag:
“As I said, I consider him for every position almost! We will wait and see. Jeremie Frimpong is there to play as a full-back but he can also play as a winger. But on the right wing I also have Mo Salah.
“But, we both agree on the fact that he’s best playing in the midfield.”
The Premier League 2024/25 Champions will field against Qarabag on Wednesday night without Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate.
Gomez picked up an injury in the top flight match against AFC Bournemouth last Saturday, while Konate has missed the last two matches for reasons that are personal and will not be available against Qarabag.
