Senior centre-back injury issues open door to 'absolute class' 18-year-old

There was a surprise inclusion in Liverpool’s starting lineup to face Tottenham in the Premier League last weekend.

Joe Gomez was handed the opportunity to start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence.

It meant Ibrahima Konate moving to the bench - the only Premier League game this season that the Frenchman hasn’t started aside from missing out against Bournemouth on compassionate grounds.

“Unfortunately Ibou got discomfort in his hamstring so we couldn't take the risk of playing him,” was Arne Slot’s assessment.

The Liverpool head coach took a preventative measure to keep harm from Konate’s door - with the 26-year-old restored to the lineup for the visit of Galatasaray on Wednesday.

And as it happened Gomez wasn’t fit to start that game either following his exertions against Spurs at the weekend. The 28-year-old played no part in training the day before the Champions League last-16 second leg - but did appear on the bench at Anfield.

“He had too many issues after our last game although he had those issues already after the Galatasaray game,” Slot said.

"It wasn't the plan to play him against Tottenham.”

LFC centre-backs running on fumes

It’s clear that at the moment these two are having to be handled carefully. Liverpool could really do with a rotation option for the rest of the campaign - with Slot perhaps having to use Konate a little more sparingly.

And why not call up Mor Talla Ndiaye?

The 18-year-old was signed for a big fee from FC Amitie in Senegal back in January. Owing to injury trouble of his own the strapping defender had been forced to wait for his debut.

But against Manchester City in the Premier League 2 earlier this week the Under-17 World Cup star took his first crucial steps.

His performance was hailed as “absolute class” by U21 coach Rob Page - although Liverpool were chasing a lost cause by the time Ndiaye appeared.

Mor Talla Ndiaye: Absolute class

It’s been a tough season for the Reds at centre-back - with Giovanni Leoni injured and the missed opportunity to sign Marc Guehi. The load has been heavy on Virgil van Dijk and Konate in particular - with the club surely grateful for their reliability.

But the strain is beginning to tell on Konate - as revealed by Slot - and it remains to be seen just how robust a deputy Gomez can be. Amara Nallo has been in the squad for the last three Champions League games but he hasn’t fared too well on his first-team outings.

Ndiaye was signed with the reputation as one of the best up-and-coming centre-backs in world football. Leoni will be in contention next season - not to mention Jeremy Jacquet and even Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

In the meantime Arne Slot could do a lot worse than draft Ndiaye into some first-team sessions and look to use him to lighten the load on his current option - even as a late substitution to save players’ legs.

Liverpool is a fine finishing school for young talents but true development happens when players with potential meet the team’s needs.

For the next few weeks Slot could have an opportunity to take a closer look at Ndiaye in training with his seniors on international duty. Then it will be up to the head coach to use the teenager to bulk out the matchday squads.

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