Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed that Joe Gomez told him he could no longer sprint against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds were sent crashing out of the Champions League on Tuesday, following a 2-0 defeat to the reigning European champions at Anfield.
In fairness to Liverpool, they gave it their all, and only conceded when they were pushing too many players forward, having to also play most of the game without Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman suffered a serious-looking Achilles injury in the first half, and his World Cup dream with France now looks to be in tatters.
Gomez was another who was brought off, despite only coming on at half-time, and speaking to the media, Slot explained his decision, saying the player himself told him he had issues:
“He wasn’t injured. 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.”
20 minutes after coming on, Joe Gomez is off. pic.twitter.com/bZeST1o43Y
— Living Liverpool (@Livin_Liverpool) April 14, 2026
Is it time for Liverpool and Joe Gomez to part ways?
Gomez has been such a great servant for Liverpool, and is their longest-serving current player, having joined even before Jurgen Klopp arrived back in 2015.
But the Englishman’s inability to stay fit for long periods is becoming increasingly problematic, and it may make sense to part ways in the summer, receiving a fee before his contract eventually expires in the summer of 2027.
A younger alternative could then come in – someone with Gomez’s versatility as both a centre-back and full-back – allowing the Reds to build for the future.
Hopefully, Gomez is fit for Sunday’s trip to Everton, though, with the 28-year-old the more preferable right-back option over Jeremie Frimpong for a tough Merseysider derby.
Frimpong had a torrid night against PSG, particularly on the ball, raising doubts over the merits of signing him from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.