Liverpool star Joe Gomez is set to miss the opening game of the season after picking up a muscle injury, reports BritPanorama.
The 29-year-old defender was forced to leave the pitch within the first 10 minutes of Liverpool’s recent victory in Nashville. Manager Andoni Iraola confirmed Gomez will not feature in the team’s opening match against Newcastle.
Iraola noted, “Joe has a muscle injury. I think it was quite clear since he complained straight away, so it will depend how he evolves, but he will be some weeks off.” He added, “If it goes very good the injury is a little bit less, if [not] it goes a little more. It’s not massive; it’s a normal muscle injury, but I think it’s going to be impossible to have him for the start of the season because we are not so far [away]. It shouldn’t be a lot more.”
In Gomez’s absence, Liverpool’s defensive options have become limited, requiring them to start Luke Chambers and Ifeanyi Ndukwe against Newcastle. Iraola also highlighted the challenge of a “pretty thin” squad, as veteran defender Virgil van Dijk recently returned to pre-season training after World Cup commitments.
“You have seen these games; we are pretty thin in the centre-back position,” Iraola explained. “The only real centre-backs we have right now are Mor and Ify, who are 18 years old, just arrived to the club, and they are doing incredibly well.” Despite recent results, the depth of the squad remains a concern.
Looking ahead, Liverpool’s fixtures include matches against Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town, Fulham, and Bournemouth following the clash with Newcastle, which marks Iraola’s first competitive match with the team.
For all the uncertainties in the build-up, the prospect of fresh talent in youth players may yet ignite a different kind of energy as the season commences. In football, the next chapter always awaits, often revealing unexpected narratives and challengers from within the ranks.
