Liverpool look under threat of being without Joe Gomez because of injury against Qarabag on Wednesday night, adding to the Reds’ defensive issues.
The Reds are preparing for their midweek Champions League clash at Anfield, with victory confirming their place in the knockout rounds.
It feels like a must-win game for the under-pressure Arne Slot, and another poor result is likely to increase the level of unrest among the fanbase.
Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat away to Bournemouth last weekend wasn’t only disappointing because of the loss, but also due to the injury picked up by Gomez after he collided with Alisson.
It has put his involvement in the Qarabag game in doubt, with This Is Anfield now reporting that he missed the Reds’ training session on Tuesday.
Ibrahima Konate was also unavailable, following the sad passing of his father last week, meaning Virgil van Dijk was the only senior centre-back on show at the AXA Training Centre.
Another cruel setback in Gomez’s injury-hit career
Gomez has been such a good servant to Liverpool – he is their longest-serving current player – with Slot praising his ability to be such a strong squad figure in the past:
“Joe is patient in a good way, he always makes sure he is ready whenever the club or his teammates need him, and that is special when it comes to his mentality because not many players can do this for so many years that he has done this.”
Sadly, Gomez’s career has been dogged by injury problems, and he has had no luck whatsoever, summed up by the nature of his current setback against Bournemouth.
That injury came at a time when he had a chance to stake a claim to start more regularly without Konate around, but now, he may be out of the Qarabag match.
If both Gomez and Konate are out, it looks likely that Wataru Endo will partner Van Dijk at the back, with youngster Giovanni Leoni also out currently.
Hopefully, Gomez makes a late recovery and is available to play, though, or Konate returns after suffering an extremely sad loss in his personal life.
