Forgotten Liverpool star in line for first appearance in THREE years

Liverpool have a problem and it will need solving in the three days before the Reds travel to Southampton.

Defensive absentees are adding up and Arne Slot is running out of options to field a starting XI.

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As a result of Andy Robertson's rash challenge against former Red Harry Wilson in today's frustrating 2-2 draw against Fulham, he received a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, so he will now miss Liverpool's visit to Southampton.

On the face of it, that is a serious strike of luck that has fallen Slot's way. Robertson has been on a poor run of form for a number of weeks now, so keeping him away from the pitch may actually beneficial.

However, his understudy Kostas Tsimikas is injured and has been for a short while, so Liverpool were essentially playing the Scottish captain by necessity, even despite his disappointing performances.

Joe Gomez was a possible option to cover at left-back, but Slot has required his services at centre-back while Ibrahima Konate remains sidelined until the new year.

Jarrell Quansah was another option at centre-back, which would've freed up Gomez, but Trent Alexander-Arnold's understudy at right-back, Conor Bradley, is also injured, so Slot wanted to ensure that he had at least one senior defensive change up his sleeve.

Now, he is really running out of answers as we look ahead to Liverpool's EFL Cup quarter-final visit to Southampton on Wednesday.

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After winning the EFL Cup last season, the Reds are trying to retain it to give Slot his first trophy while managing on Merseyside, and so the Southampton game represents a massive opportunity for the club.

Generally speaking, are a nice team for Liverpool to come up against. They are the worst team in the Premier League, sitting on five points in 20th, and they have only managed one win in their 15 league outings since they were promoted last season.

However, Russell Martin's Saints were impressive against Liverpool in their 3-2 loss to the Reds in November, and they have been able to get through three rounds of the EFL Cup to get to this stage, so they are a fighting team.

So, while Liverpool may want to rest Virgil Van Dijk and Trent for the upcoming fixture, replacing them is a daunting task, especially given the importance of the game - a place in a two-legged semi-final.

The only left-back Liverpool have available to them at this point in time is 21-year-old James Norris, who you have heard of before.

When the Reds were out in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019, the FA failed to reschedule Liverpool's EFL Cup match against Aston Villa, so Liverpool quite literally had to play the kids. Jurgen Klopp was the manager that day in name only, as almost all of the first-team was unavailable.

Norris came on as a substitute that night for his club debut, aged 19 at the time, becoming the fifth youngest player to ever feature for the club.

He's since been a mainstay at the club's academy before featuring for a few minutes in Liverpool's 4-1 FA Cup win over Shrewsbury in 2022.

Now, almost three years later, he could be Liverpool's saviour if he can fill in at left-back for his first-ever senior start for the club.

The move would allow Slot to field Gomez at centre-back and Quansah could be used at their centre-back or right-back depending upon whether Trent or Van Dijk were to be rested. 18-year-old centre-back Amara Nallo is likely to be in Slot's plans as well, although he would be making his senior debut.

The headache that Liverpool have to deal with is monumental. The absentees from injuries and suspensions are mounting and Liverpool's regular players are destined to be feeling the toll of such a brutal fixture schedule.

It will be fascinating to see how the club decides to proceed.

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