**As Liverpool prepare to take on Tottenham in the third round of the EFL Cup at Anfield, significant fitness news has now emerged for Andoni Iraola.**
Premier League duties make way for domestic cup action on Wednesday night, as the Reds look to inject some much-needed momentum into their season.
Iraola has confirmed that certain changes will be made to his starting lineup, with Giorgi Mamardashvili set to replace Alisson in goal, allowing key starters to be rested.
Speaking in his [pre-Spurs press conference](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/fitness-latest-joe-gomez-return-update-conor-bradley), Liverpool’s head coach dropped a hugely positive update regarding Joe Gomez, saying he is back in contention for the first time since the start of pre-season:
_“He is training with the team. I think he’s going to be available for tomorrow and now it’s a matter of deciding how much he can play and what is the best thing to do.”_
Iraola then added further news regarding three more injured players, saying: _“I think he is not close to training with the team. He’s training alone but he has started touching the ball._
_“Definitely I want him as quick as possible ready but it’s a long-term injury. I think \[Giovanni\] Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”_
**Joe Gomez’s return a welcome boost for Liverpool**
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Gomez’s injuries have affected his whole career, and it feels unlikely anything will change now, but that doesn’t mean his return isn’t still great news.
The 29-year-old is an experienced player who can shine at both centre-back and right-back, with the latter position a problem area, given Jeremie Frimpong’s struggles there.
Hopefully, Gomez enjoys a second-half cameo at home to Spurs, making a big step in his recovery, before enjoying a long run without a fitness setback.
It does feel like this will be Liverpool’s longest-serving player’s final year with the Reds, considering the Englishman is out of contract at the end of this season.
It would be a surprise if the Reds offered such an injury-prone figure a contract extension, bringing an end to an admirable 12-year stint that started before Jurgen Klopp had even come in.