Arne Slot reveals why Liverpool are heading towards a CRISIS

Arsenal spent the weekend complaining about an impending injury crisis threatening to derail their entire season, but in the end it emerged that Liverpool are the banged-up side.

Arne Slot's men are in the midst of a relentless period, facing Brighton twice in the next four days, without key members of the starting XI.

Diogo Jota, Alisson, Federico Chiesa, Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott all missed out at the Emirates for the weekend draw against the Gunners.

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In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Slot confirmed that the majority of them would be missing out again.

Only Conor Bradley is currently training with the team and he is expected to feature in the squad for the League Cup game tomorrow evening at the Amex.

This comes as a huge blow as, when asked if he expected Jota to return before the international break in the middle of November, Slot replied: "No, and Elliott the same.”

With Jota being Liverpool’s starting centre-forward this season, there is understandably annoyance on the part of all Reds here. It seems likely that Darwin Nuñez will retain his place in Liverpool’s attack as a result.

Nuñez’s spirits will be lifted by a goal and an assist in the past week against RB Leipzig and Arsenal. He was a welcome sight at the Emirates, being arguably Liverpool’s hardest-working player.

It does, however, intensify the necessity of a rumoured signing such as Omar Marmoush in the position to come to fruition.

Fresh Chiesa injury blow

On Chiesa, Slot’s message was perplexing.

"It's difficult to say [when he'll return] because he goes a bit up and down,” the Dutch coach replied. “Sometimes trains with us and then goes out with an injury again."

This will be just as frustrating for Liverpool’s new head coach as it is for fans. The Italian was meant to be an unpredictable addition, able to fill in for talisman Mo Salah on the right or play through the middle if necessary.

Instead, his Liverpool career has taken on a Thiago-like trajectory early on.

It also makes fans question the strategy of the higher-ups. £12 million was seen as a bargain for a player of his quality, but the rumours are that Juventus were willing to agree to a cut-price deal due to Chiesa’s inability to stay fit.

There is already talk that he may be loaned back to Italy in January, and sporting director Richard Hughes has questions to answer.

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