'It wasn't an injury' - Arne Slot reveals why Jarell Quansah was forced off against Tottenham | OneFootball

Liverpool manager Arne Slot explained that Jarell Quansah was forced off against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday after suffering from illness and chest pains.

The 21-year-old centre-back was afforded a rare start by Slot in the midweek Carabao Cup semi-final away to Spurs, but lasted only 30 minutes of the 1-0 defeat before dropping to the turf and asking to be substituted.

The bitty cup tie had already been halted inside the opening ten minutes after Rodrigo Bentancur required extensive medical treatment following a worrisome collapse. The Spurs midfielder was quick to post a positive update, but Quansah's absence was not an injury issue.

Arne Slot had to remove Jarell Quansah in the first half of Liverpool's defeat to Tottenahm / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

"Jarell didn't feel really well," Slot revealed post-game. "From the moment the game started until the moment we had to take him off, he felt a bit of pressure I think he said on his chest.

"I have to ask him exactly, but he said he didn't feel well. It was not an injury. In the last few days he was a bit ill but we thought he was on his way back. Maybe that had something to do with it."

Liverpool had Ibrahima Konate on the bench, but Slot left his starting centre-back on the bench until the second half, instead turning to defensive midfielder Wataru Endo as Quansah's replacement. Konate has only just returned from a lengthy layoff of his own and may not be risked for Liverpool's upcoming FA Cup third-round tie against Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

Slot may be tempted to ring the changes for the visit of a side hovering just above League Two's relegation zone. Virgil van Dijk is unlikely to be risked and Joe Gomez remains sidelined by injury, leaving Liverpool with few defensive options, especially if Quansah is not healthy enough to feature. Endo may be forced to anchor a rotated backline on Saturday alongside an academy talent, such as the highly rated 18-year-old Amara Nallo.