With Jeremie Frimpong expected to be out of action until December due to a hamstring injury, Liverpool are suddenly facing a potential shortage in their defensive line-up. The Reds have already lost Giovanni Leoni for the season due to an ACL injury, leaving Joe Gomez as the only experienced back-up for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Gomez, an England international, could also fill in at full-back on either side if needed, although Arne Slot has generally avoided using him in this position during his tenure at Anfield.

Ahead of Saturday's match against Aston Villa, the Dutch manager was asked if he had considered playing Gomez at right-back to address his team's ongoing defensive issues. While Slot admitted he was open to adjusting his tactics when necessary, he maintained that he had not yet seen any reason to alter his current strategy.

"It does go against my beliefs," he stated. "But I have won games in the past - we can talk about (Manchester) City away last season - that went against my beliefs, but it was necessary to play it over there...