Arne Slot has said Liverpool’s Joe Gomez is “not in a good place” with a hamstring injury with the head coach believing the defender will be unavailable “for a few weeks”.
The 27-year-old had to be replaced in the 37th minute of Sunday’s 5-0 win at West Ham United by Jarell Quansah and could now be sidelined for a prolonger period.
Gomez had not started a Premier League match for Arne Slot’s side until an injury to Ibrahima Konate saw the England international partner Virgil van Dijk in the centre of Liverpool’s defence for each of their six league matches during December.
The versatile Gomez will miss Sunday’s Premier League match at home to Manchester United.
“Joe is of course not in a good place when it comes to his injury, he is out for a few weeks, that’s for sure,” Slot told his press conference on Friday.
He did give more positive updates on the fitness of right-back Conor Bradley and central defender Ibrahima Konate, who could return to the team alongside Van Dijk in Gomez’s absence.
Conor (Bradley) and Ibou (Konate) will train with us today for the first time. Curious and interested to see exactly where they are. They have worked hard to come back to the team but the next step is always how do you handle team sessions,” Slot added.
“We trained yesterday and I assume everybody is fit, although we are in the period of time where some people get sick as well but nothing heard about that yet so hopefully everybody is ready to be part of the game, except Joe Gomez.”
Liverpool are currently six points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, having played a game fewer than all of their title rivals.
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Analysis by Liverpool correspondent Andy Jones
Gomez’s absence will be a blow to Arne Slot as it leaves him with only two fit senior centre-backs – Virgil van Dijk and Jarell Quansah.
The good news is Ibrahima Konate is close to returning from a knee injury that has kept him out for over a month so the head coach’s options will return to three.
Despite finding himself close to an exit in the summer and fourth choice centre-back entering the season, Gomez’s attitude impressed the coaching staff. He performed well during his infrequent appearances – primarily in the Carabao Cup – and then stepped in seamlessly for Konate.
There will be increased pressure on Quansah to step up during this intense period of fixtures. The 21-year-old has had a tricky first half of the campaign following his breakthrough last season.
Slot may have to get creative again as he figures out how to manage the three centre-backs he will have available, to make sure there are no further injuries in that department.
(MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
