Liverpool take on Azeri side Qarabag in their final league phase game of this season’s Champions League on Wednesday night
12:06, 28 Jan 2026Updated 16:35, 28 Jan 2026
Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo could both be utilised at centre-back(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It’s the big Champions League ‘league phase’ finale – and this time around Liverpool have something to play for.
A year ago a shadow Reds side were in Eindhoven to take on a PSV side whose 3-2 win didn’t topple Liverpool off top spot, not that that ended up doing them any good as they drew eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16.
This time around the Reds need a positive result to ensure that they don’t drop out of the top eight of the table, as if they did then they would give themselves a tricky playoff tie to negotiate next month.
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With such a threadbare squad, the last thing Arne Slot wants right now is more football. But what should the Reds boss do tonight? He’s been given some advice from our team.
Paul Gorst
So a victory this evening and the prospect of an unwanted, two-legged affair to qualify for the Champions League knockouts goes away. That’s ideal, right?
Arne Slot has made a point of telling us he has so few options right now, saying: “It’s almost constantly the same players who have to play.” And with Joe Gomez sidelined and Ibrahima Konate understandably on compassionate leave, it falls on Wataru Endo to come in and start alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
In the full-back areas, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez continue, despite the claims of Andy Robertson on the left side. I am recalling Curtis Jones for Alexis Mac Allister in midfield to sit in alongside Ryan Gravenberch with Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai further forward in what is a 4-2-2-2 formation.
Up top, Hugo Ekitike comes back into the startling lineup alongside Mohamed Salah. Cody Gakpo can wait in the wings alongside Federico Chiesa.
My team (4-2-2-2): Alisson; Frimpong, Endo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike.
Ian Doyle
After 329487234 games, Liverpool finally reach the end of the opening Champions League group stage in an unusual situation for this season – they’re playing a team they’ve never faced before.
Qarabag are in town this evening with the Premier League champions knowing victory will guarantee a top-four place, a decent seeding and avoidance of the play-off rounds. What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?
There will have to be changes after the weekend. And one is at centre-back, where Ryan Gravenberch should drop back alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk. Compatriot Jeremie Frimpong can be to his right, with Andy Robertson coming in at left-back.
Alisson Becker remains between the sticks despite taking a bang to his knee at Bournemouth.
It means there has to be a reshuffle in midfield. It’s time to revert to a 4-2-3-1, and Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones can be the defensive shield with Dominik Szoboszlai the number 10.
Up top, Florian Wirtz is on the left, with Mohamed Salah right and Hugo Ekitike can return down the middle.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike.
Mark Jones
Let’s get straight to the matter at hand then. Joe Gomez got clattered by his own goalkeeper, Ibrahima Konate is on compassionate leave, Giovanni Leoni isn’t kicking a ball for the rest of the season and Marc Guehi plays for someone else. So Liverpool need a centre-back.
It’s a tough call, but I think I’d go with Ryan Gravenberch for this one. Liverpool are going to have plenty of the ball, you’d think, and so his passing out from the back ensures he gets the nod over Wataru Endo.
Elsewhere I to would put Andy Robertson in for Milos Kerkez, who was excellent in Marseille but struggled back at Bournemouth and could probably do with a rest.
The rest of the team pretty much picks itself, with Hugo Ekitike back in attack at the expense of Cody Gakpo, who can be an option off the bench. I was really tempted to try and give Rio Ngumoha a start, but he’ll have to be patient.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike.