NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez receives treatment during a friendly match between Liverpool FC ans AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez receives treatment during a friendly match between Liverpool FC ans AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Joe Gomez added to Liverpool’s injury issues at centre-back, going off injured just nine minutes into the Reds’ friendly against Sunderland.
Only eight minutes of pre-season had passed before Gomez suffered his first injury issue of the season.
Having started at centre-back in the first pre-season game of Andoni Iraola‘s reign, the 29-year-old sat down with an apparent problem.
He remained on the ground for a minute or so before walking, unaided, off the pitch to be replaced by new signing Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez (L) Is greeted by head coach Andoni Iraola as he is substituted off during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez (L) Is greeted by head coach Andoni Iraola as he is substituted off during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The youngster took his place in defence alongside fellow teenager Mor Talla Ndiaye, who was starting due to a ‘minor problem’ experienced by Jeremy Jacquet ahead of the match.
Jacquet’s injury shouldn’t rule him out for long, though, with the defender expected to resume training soon on the US tour.
Hopefully, the same will be the case for Gomez. The club’s longest-serving player looked to walk off without too much pain and smiled when talking to Andoni Iraola.
Even the slightest hint of a problem and Gomez will have deemed any risk not worth taking in a pre-season friendly, especially given his history of injuries.
While Jacquet and Gomez’s injury problems shouldn’t be long-term worries, their issues do shine a spotlight on Liverpool’s lack of depth in defence.
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni arrives in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni arrives in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
On paper, they have four potentially excellent centre-backs and two more exciting prospects. However, Virgil van Dijk is the only senior defender currently fit.
Giovanni Leoni remains missing due to the ACL injury he suffered in September, Gomez is unreliable due to persistent injury problems and Jacquet is new to the Premier League.
Ndiaye and Ndukwe look to be promising talents, good on the ball and physically imposing, but ideally neither would be heavily relied upon this season.
The situation at right-back isn’t much better, with Conor Bradley still expected to miss a considerable period as he recovers from a serious knee injury.
Jeremie Frimpong is currently the first-choice right-back, but the club don’t see him as a long-term, permanent option there.
Left-back is well stocked, thankfully, thanks to Kostas Tsimikas returning from a loan at Roma to provide competition for Milos Kerkez.
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NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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CHICAGO, USA - Thursday, July 23, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet departs the team hotel in Chicago on day four of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Football – FA Premier League – Liverpool FC v Brentford FC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)