Arne Slot says injured Liverpool player is still ‘quite far’ away from returning and confirms he’ll miss Nottingham Forest game

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Liverpool face one of their biggest tests in the Premier League this week as the Reds travel away to Nottingham Forest.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been the surprise package in England this season with Forest sat third in the Premier League standings after an incredible first-half of the campaign under the Portuguese manager.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	19	14	4	1	47	19	28	46
2	ArsenalArsenal	20	11	7	2	39	18	21	40
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	20	12	4	4	29	19	10	40
4	ChelseaChelsea	20	10	6	4	39	24	15	36

With Liverpool interested in Morgan Gibbs-White, the Anfield side have been seemingly keeping tabs on Forest’s key players this season in what is looking like a historic year for the Nottingham side, who are dreaming of a UEFA Champions League finish.

Yet Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool will be without one key player for tomorrow’s trip to the City Ground and for some time after.

Joe Gomez ‘quite far’ from Liverpool return due to injury

Speaking to the press, the Dutch manager confirmed that Joe Gomez is ‘quite far’ away from returning to action, with the defender currently out injured after picking up a problem last month against West Ham.

Slot said when asked about Gomez’s current fitness condition: “Quite far. He’s definitely not training with the team yet, and Darwin is suspended. So those are the two we will miss tomorrow.”

Gomez was one of Liverpool’s most featured players in 2024 even with the defender missing out on a £45m move to Newcastle United in the summer, with the England international’s utility once again being a huge weapon for Slot.

Yet with the defender set to miss tomorrow’s clash against Forest, Liverpool will again be short of numbers at the back at the City Ground, with Slot’s centre-back options now reduced to just three heading into Tuesday’s huge tie.

Who could start at the back for Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest?

Few Liverpool fans would have predicted a January away trip to Forest to be the setting for a potential title decider, yet the Premier League scriptwriters have once again pulled a surprise in the mix when writing the 2024/25 season.

And for Liverpool, their centre-back options going into the game are looking thin, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate rested on Saturday against Nottingham Forest with Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo starting in central defence.

Indeed, Liverpool know they will have to be at their defensive best if they’re to come away with all three points against Forest, and going with the strongest centre-back pairing in Van Dijk and Koante would be a wise decision from Slot for tomorrow night.