‘Outstanding’ Liverpool star will never play for Reds again after what Arne Slot has said about him

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Liverpool are likely to be active in the transfer market after wrapping up the Premier League title.

The Reds stand just one point away from winning the English top division for a 20th time and will be hoping to get over the line on Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur.

Once the party dies down, though, Arne Slot is not planning to stand on ceremony. The Liverpool head coach looks set to make a number of changes in the transfer market.

While several exciting new signings are expected to arrive, this will also mean a handful of Liverpool players waving goodbye to the club.

One who is expected to depart is Joe Gomez, who is weeks away from completing a 10th season at Anfield.

Unfortunately for Gomez, injury has ruined his campaign, restricting the defender to just 17 appearances. And after Slot’s latest update on Gomez’s fitness, it seems probable that he won’t be seen in a Liverpool shirt ever again.

Joe Gomez set for Liverpool goodbye

Rewind to early December, and Gomez’s fortunes were much rosier. Following Ibrahima Konate’s injury against Real Madrid, the 27-year-old had stepped in fantastically well.

With Konate nearing a return, Slot was going to be faced with a difficult decision over who should partner Virgil van Dijk.

And then Gomez did what he has often done. He got injured. Having gone down against West Ham on December 28th, the England international has played just once more since. And that 10-minute FA Cup appearance at Plymouth in early February looks set to be his last at Liverpool.

Asked about Gomez during his Friday press conference, Slot did confirm that the No.2 is closing in on a return. However, his admission that he may still be some weeks away from actual involvement did not bode well for Gomez’s chances of getting on the pitch.

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“If his recovery goes well, he would be able to [play] maybe in the last one or two games of the season,” said Slot. “But he is still not training with us yet. He is coming closer and closer to train with the team, but then he’s been out for a long time.

“We were just discussing Conor Bradley – it took him a while before he could even come in or have a long start. I think he [Gomez] will be available in the last one, two or three games if his recovery goes the way as planned.”

Gomez deserves better farewell

It is not a given that Gomez leaves Liverpool this summer. But after almost joining Newcastle last year, the season has not gone as planned for him.

As a result, it would now feel like a natural end to his decade-long association with Liverpool.

Gomez has been an ‘outstanding’ servant to the Reds and the day he leaves will be a sad one. But this season has summed up his time at Anfield.

Nevertheless, Gomez does deserve better than slinking off having not been able to play for months and months.

If he is available for the last game or two of the season – and if Liverpool have already wrapped up the league title as expected – then Slot should at least give Gomez the chance to play again. He deserves his moment to say goodbye.