Arne Slot has revealed Liverpool defender Joe Gomez required an injection in his knee last week.
While Gomez is naturally a centre-back, he is an option at right-back and had been tipped to start the Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
With Jeremie Frimpong currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, Liverpool’s right-back crisis deepened during the international break with Conor Bradley picking up a knock that is expected to keep him out for three weeks.
However, against Forest Slot opted for Dominik Szoboszlai as a makeshift defender once again.
The Dutchman has since offered an explanation as to why Gomez was overlooked and has suggested the 28-year-old is not guaranteed to start Wednesday night’s Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven,
"He is one of the five defenders we have [available],” Slot revealed in the news conference. "Normally I wouldn't go into detail maybe that much but he had an injection last week on his knee.
"So, that means that's normally not because you don't feel anything.
"Apart from maybe me making the decision to play Dom or someone else in that position, this is also to do with him not being completely fit.
"Although, he is in the group tomorrow, as he was on Saturday. But [he] wasn't able to train last week every single time."
Liverpool go into the PSV clash on the back of successive 3-0 defeats against Manchester City and Forest either side of the international break.
Those results have left the reigning Premier League champions 11 points off leaders Arsenal and Slot admits his side’s form this season has not been acceptable.
“It is ridiculous. It is unbelievable,” the Dutchman added. “I have said many times you will never find enough excuses for us to perform like this. It's unexpected for the club, for me for everyone.
"But this is maybe the best club to face it, the harder it gets at this club, the more we are together.”
