Jurgen Klopp will continue to play Joe Gomez in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s place until the right-back returns for Liverpool.
That’s according to The Athletic, who report that Trent will miss Saturday’s game against Watford as well as the Champions League first-leg away to Benfica.
Staff are hopeful that Alexander-Arnold can make a return for the potential title decider against Manchester City on April 10th.
But The Athletic report that Liverpool would still view this as a ‘quick return to action given the nature of the problem’.
Until Trent’s eventual return, they report that it is ‘likely’ that Gomez will try to build on his encouraging performance in the position against Nottingham Forest.
Gomez gets his chance
After an incredibly disappointing season for Gomez so far, this could be the chance he needs to reignite his Liverpool career.
Granted, he would surely prefer the game time would come his way in a centre-back position. But after just one Premier League start all season, which was incidentally at right-back, beggars can’t be choosers.
There is a spot open as Alexander-Arnold’s understudy on a more permanent basis. The right-back doesn’t miss too many games. But if Gomez can enter himself into Klopp’s thinking in any way, it will benefit him as a big summer looms.
With two years remaining on Gomez’s current deal, Liverpool need to decide whether to renew his terms, loan him out, or cash-in while he still holds a high value.
Klopp has long been a fan of his player. Earlier this season, with minutes on the pitch as limited as they have been, the manager still referred to Gomez as an ‘incredible’ player via liverpoolfc.com.
It’s obviously a huge blow to lose Trent for any amount of time. The Champions League away game with Benfica especially is a tough match that Liverpool could really do with having him around for.
But if The Reds can have him back for the big one against City, whilst giving Gomez the chance to get back into some form, it could end up being a blessing in disguise.
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