Arne Slot is confident that Andy Robertson will remain at Liverpool this month despite the full-back being linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Tottenham.
It was reported last week that Spurs had approached the Reds over a potential £5m deal for the Scotland captain, who has fallen out of favour on Merseyside this season.
Milos Kerkez arrived from Bournemouth in the summer and though Robertson has still made 22 appearances in 2025-26, he conceded that he would like more first-team football.
A deal could still happen if Liverpool can bring in a replacement. Kostas Tsimikas is on loan at Roma, but they have struggled to get him back as there is no recall clause.
And speaking ahead of their Champions League clash with Qarabag in their final match of the league phase on Wednesday, Slot confirmed Robertson would be in his squad.
"Robbo is part of the team tomorrow evening. He has been part of this squad for so many years," Slot said.
"I am happy to have him, and I am glad he is available because that is not normal for us right now. He will be part of the team and nothing is happening on this side.
"It's hard to say anything definite in this world we are in, but I expect him to stay."
Working towards Qarabag pic.twitter.com/XuTyj2zmED
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 27, 2026
Another part of Liverpool's decision to keep Robertson is because of their injury issues in defence, with Slot confirming Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate will not face Qarabag.
Gomez was taken off with a suspected hip injury after colliding with Alisson during their dramatic defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, with no timeframe placed on his return.
Konate, meanwhile, is still away from the side after recently dealing with a family bereavement, leaving just one senior centre-back in Virgil van Dijk available to Slot.
"For sure, at centre-back tomorrow there will not be a centre-back. I can only play a midfielder as there are no centre-backs available apart from Virgil [Van Dijk]," Slot added.
"I credit him a lot for being fit all the time. At his age, to constantly be ready to play another 90 is something we should not take for granted."
Liverpool are fourth in the 36-team league phase table and know a win will confirm their place in the top eight, though a draw could also be enough for automatic qualification to the last 16.
Indeed, since Slot took charge of Liverpool in 2024, the Reds are the team with the highest win percentage in the Champions League (76.5%), winning 13 of their 17 games.
However, they have been struggling in the Premier League. Liverpool are sixth after losing to Bournemouth and find themselves 14 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool are winless in five league games (D4 L1), their longest run since January 2021 (also five), and are at risk of failing to qualify for UEFA's flagship competition next year.
Former Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher suggested Slot's job would be in jeopardy if they did not qualify for the Champions League, though the Dutchman remained confident in not only achieving that, but also claiming some silverware this year.
"On what is acceptable to me, if we can improve in both boxes, I think we can win something this season," Slot said.
"If we only improve in one, it will be really difficult to win something."