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Defender ruled out for months as Liverpool’s injury crisis deepens

Liverpool’s defensive resources have been further depleted after youngster Wellity Lucky was ruled out for at least two months with a hamstring injury. That stark opening line from James Pearce of The Athletic sets the tone for a worrying moment in Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield. The Dutchman has inherited a squad already thin in certain areas, and this latest setback only sharpens the sense that Liverpool are walking a tightrope.

Wellity Lucky may not yet be a household name, but his growing presence around the first team had made him an important part of the background structure. As Pearce notes, “The 20-year-old centre-back is a member of Liverpool’s under-21 squad but has frequently trained with the first team this season, and has been on the bench in the Premier League five times.” That exposure matters. It suggests the coaching staff see him as more than just academy depth.

His senior debut in the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in October was hardly a dream introduction, but it was a marker of trust. Now, that development pathway is on hold, and Liverpool’s bench looks even lighter.

Slot running out of options

The timing of Lucky’s injury could hardly be worse. With Giovanni Leoni sidelined since September with an ACL injury, Liverpool are effectively operating with three senior centre backs. Joe Gomez’s collision with Alisson against Bournemouth added further anxiety. “It is not expected to be serious but the length of his absence remains unknown,” which is never comforting language for any manager.

Photo: IMAGO

Ibrahima Konate’s compassionate leave following the death of his father adds a human element that transcends football, but it still leaves Slot in a tactical bind. As Pearce reports, “Central midfielder Wataru Endo was brought on by Slot in place of Gomez against Bournemouth.” That tells its own story. When your defensive reshuffle involves midfielders, the alarm bells are already ringing.

Ryan Gravenberch being considered as another emergency option at centre back underlines the improvisation at play. These are not long term solutions, they are sticking plasters.

Transfer reluctance raises questions

Despite the shortage, “it remains unlikely that Liverpool will enter the market for senior defensive help this month.” This line will frustrate supporters who remember similar situations in past seasons, where injuries mounted and the response felt passive.

Marc Guehi’s move to Manchester City feels particularly painful. He “was close to signing on the summer’s transfer deadline day,” yet Liverpool stepped away due to financial concerns. In isolation that is understandable, but in the context of current events, it feels like a missed opportunity.

Even at full back, the situation is fragile. Conor Bradley’s season-ending injury and the stalled talks over Andrew Robertson only add to the sense of a squad stretched to its limits.

Development stalled for Lucky

For Wellity Lucky himself, this injury is a significant blow. “He is not considered a Premier League starting option,” but he was becoming a trusted squad figure. Two months out halts momentum, delays learning, and potentially reshapes his role in future plans.

In football, timing is everything. Lucky’s timing could not be worse, and Liverpool’s defensive planning now looks dangerously reliant on players staying fit in an already congested calendar.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a supporter’s perspective, this report feels all too familiar, and that is what hurts most. We have seen this pattern before. A few injuries, a bit of bad luck, and suddenly Liverpool are patching together a defence with midfielders and academy players.

The worrying part is not Wellity Lucky being out, as unfortunate as that is. The worrying part is that his absence actually matters. A 20-year-old under-21 defender should not be central to whether the squad feels stable or not, yet here we are.

Arne Slot deserves patience, but he also deserves proper backing. Saying it is unlikely Liverpool will enter the market feels like déjà vu. The club talk about sustainability, but at what cost? There is a fine line between smart planning and risky underinvestment, and right now it feels like Liverpool are leaning towards the latter.

Seeing Marc Guehi in a Manchester City shirt only adds salt to the wound. If he was almost ours, then why not push that bit harder? These are the margins that separate title contenders from nearly teams.

As fans, we want to believe in long term thinking, but we also want to see a squad that can survive a couple of injuries without wobbling. At the moment, this feels less like a project and more like another season waiting for the physio room to empty.

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