Joe Gomez came on at half-time against Paris Saint-Germain only to exit 22 minutes later, with Arne Slot revealing another injury fear for the right-back.
Gomez was a half-time replacement for Jeremie Frimpong as Liverpool looked to overcome the odds and knock PSG out of the Champions League.
But the experienced defender’s night ended early as he was brought off after 22 minutes, with Rio Ngumoha then taking his place as Dominik Szoboszlai shifted to right-back.
It was a confusing situation which Slot explained in his post-match press conference – with Gomez reporting his concerns over an injury.
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“He wasn’t injured,” the head coach began.
“But I wanted to make a different substitution and then he said to me: ‘I’m not convinced if I can keep sprinting, I feel a little bit, so I think it’s better to go off not to take the risk’.
“I think that was my fourth substitution, so to keep someone on who might get injured afterwards is never a smart thing.
“So I had to change the substitution.”
Ngumoha was planned to take over from Alexis Mac Allister in a more attacking change which would likely have seen Szoboszlai take over as No. 10.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot reacts during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
But instead Liverpool were forced into another rejig having already lost Hugo Ekitike to a worrying Achilles injury midway through the first half.
It continued the story of Gomez’s career. with the 28-year-old struggling to maintain his fitness in recent seasons and therefore losing his place in the side under both Slot and Jurgen Klopp before him.
The same issues have occurred with Frimpong this season while Conor Bradley is sidelined with a long-term knee injury, which has only increased Slot’s woes.
As it stands there is no indication that Gomez will miss the trip to Everton‘s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, but Slot should provide a more accurate update in his pre-match press conference.