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From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterLiverpool will be keeping a close eye on this weeks Champions League play-off second legs as they get ready to find out who they will be facing in the last 16 next month.With Arne Slots side in a battle for a top-four spot in the Premier League, winning the Champions League may end up being the only route back into the competition next season, placing an extra layer of importance in their upcoming knockout tie.But before Liverpool even knows who they will be facing next, they have suffered a blow which has seen insult added to injury.You may likeLiverpool star dealt new �60m kick in the teeth amid fresh injury woeHow to watch Liverpool vs Qarabag: Live streams, TV coverage, preview as the Reds look to finish league phase with win at AnfieldLiverpool signing suffers quite serious injury blowLiverpool hit with Champions League red tape blowGet VIP Liverpool tickets HERE with Seat UniqueSeat Unique tickets at Anfield offer a fantastic matchday. You get premium padded seats in the new Anfield Road stand (Block AM5, front rows) and access to the Brodies Lounge for three hours pre-match. Enjoy street food, a complimentary half-time drink, a matchday programme, and entertainment, including a Liverpool legend appearance, making it a truly elevated experience.View DealSlot saw Wataru Endo taken off on a stretcher during his sides 1-0 victory over Sunderland earlier this month, with the Japan international having spent the match deputising at right-back. This came after the 33-year-old had attempted to play on, only to fall back to the floor in agony."I assume he will be out for a long, long time, Slot said following the match, What is long, it is difficult to say at this moment but you can hardly believe what this right full-back position brings us this season."With Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong both sidelined, Slot certainly is feeling the pinch at right-back and as well as having to make do without the versatile Endo for the foreseeable future, a specific UEFA rule means that Liverpool will not be able to replace him in their Champions League squad.Rule 31.14.c dictates that only one outfield player can be replaced if they are hit by long-term injury or illness and only applies to the first six games of the league phase, which ended back in December.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Liverpools last-16 tie will be played next month and Slot is only permitted to add to his European squad with players on the B list, which means no senior player can be brought in.Earlier in the season Liverpool were allowed to replace Giovanni Leoni with Federico Chiesa after the former suffered a season-ending ACL injury, but with Endos injury coming after Liverpool submitted their squad for the knockout phase, nothing can be done.Calvin Ramsay would be an option to replace Endo, but due to the rules on locally trained players, this is a non-starter.This leaves Slot with just 19 senior players available for the remainder of Liverpools European campaign, with the likes of Endo, Bradley and Alexander Isak in the squad, despite being sidelined with long-term problems.There is hope that Isak could be back for the quarter-finals which take place between April 7 and 15, should Liverpool make it that far.The draw for the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place on Friday, February 27, with their next opponents one of Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray or Juventus.TOPICSLiverpoolChampions LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.
