Arne Slot has completely new explanation for why Joe Gomez was left out of Liverpool’s squad to face Ipswich

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Liverpool are approaching the last week of the transfer window with plenty of questions left to answer.

The Reds are so far the only Premier League side yet to make any kind of signing since the end of last season.

That does look likely to change as Liverpool close in on signing Giorgi Mamardashvili but the goalkeeper will head out on-loan before moving to Anfield at some point down the line.

As a result of the lack of activity and a couple of outgoings, the Liverpool squad right now looks weaker than the one that finished third under Jurgen Klopp last season.

Unfortunately, there remains a chance that the group is depleted even further. Joe Gomez has been the subject of much speculation throughout the week. After days of uncertainty, Arne Slot has now attempted to clear things up.

Arne Slot gives Joe Gomez explanation

Gomez has been a brilliant servant to Liverpool. However, after nine years on Merseyside, there was claimed to be a feeling that Gomez might want to move on this summer.

That appeared to be set to come to fruition last Saturday. After the 27-year-old was left out of Slot’s first Premier League matchday squad, it was reported that Gomez is exploring a move away.

On the back of that, there have been all sorts of links for the defender. With Newcastle and Aston Villa hovering, it has even been claimed that Chelsea sounded out Gomez’s agents.

Almost a week on, though, and the England international is still a Liverpool player.

In fact, when asked ‘where Gomez’s head is at’ during his pre-Brentford press conference on Friday, Slot claimed that his No.2 was actually left out of the Ipswich game for fitness related reasons.

READ MORE: Arne Slot says Liverpool have picked up an injury problem ahead of facing Brentford

“Yeah, it’s [his head] been in the right place for three weeks,” replied the Dutchman. “He’s worked really hard since he came back but he didn’t play a lot in the Euros.

“In the first session he couldn’t train the whole session, so we had to manage his load and that was the reason he wasn’t in the team.

“He’s had a good week in terms of load and how much he can do in the team,” Slot added.

“He’s one of the players player I’ve seen new things from and learned what I can see from him and also combined with other players. It’s been a good week for him and for us until now.”

Joe Gomez set for Liverpool stay?

This is really interesting from Slot. Of course, it can be true that Gomez wasn’t quite ready and is also exploring a move away.

But the tone here from the head coach was that from his point of view at least, Joe was simply not ready to be used.

Asked by journalist James Pearce later on during the press conference whether he was expecting Gomez to stay at Liverpool in that case, Slot rather dodged the question, though.

“At this moment, I’m expecting everyone to be here,” the boss replied. “But you’ve been in football even longer than me, looking at you! So, you know that everything can change.”

Not exactly a definitive committed from Slot that Gomez is staying, but we’d suggest that there should now be confidence that the former Charlton youngster will be here for his tenth season at Anfield.