Joe Gomez will miss today’s game against Crystal Palace, but it’s ‘nothing serious.’
That’s according to James Pearce of The Athletic. Answering questions during a Q&A before today’s game against Palace, Pearce provided an injury update for Liverpool.
“He (Gomez) picked up an issue in training last night. It’s nothing serious,” wrote the journalist.
That’s a relief. After Jurgen Klopp confirmed yesterday that Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota had both suffered knocks, Liverpool don’t need another injury. Gomez joins Alisson and Jota in being missing from today’s squad.
Gomez missing vital minutes to secure more game-time
Hopefully this is just a case of a precautionary measure being exercised by Liverpool.
We all know Gomez’s history with injury, the last thing he needs is another issue. Having spent the better part of a year missing in 2020/21, he desperately needs to maintain fitness in order to find rhythm once again.
In fairness to Gomez, he did that last season, but still found himself fourth-choice in the centre-back stakes.
Despite his lack of game-time, the defender recently signed a new contract with Liverpool. The 25-year-old looks set for a bigger role next season. With the World Cup on the horizon, he simply has no option but to stay fit.
In that respect, this is the worst possible start. Regardless of whether the issue is serious or not, Gomez is missing vital minutes to build fitness ahead of the season.
When you’re in the position that he is in the squad, you need to use every minute you possibly can. Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk are already ahead of him in the pecking order.
All three are fit and available and could cement their position before Gomez has a chance to get back.
Fingers crossed Joe only misses the one game, and is back to compete for the rest of the pre-season schedule.
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