Following Wednesday night's friendly victory over Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York City, the Liverpool squad hotfooted their way back to their training base in Illinois. Andoni Iraola gave a press conference at Chicago Fire Endeavor Health Performance Center and, has he has been since being unveiled as Liverpool manager, the Spaniard was very honest with his answers.
One of the first questions he was asked was about Joe Gomez's availability. The England international hobbled off just eight minutes into Saturday's win over Sunderland, and Iraola confirmed that it is not good news:
"It's a massive injury. I always say one month, maybe less. But it's impossible to have him for the start of the Premier League season but not so long after that... it was quite clear. He is some weeks off, yes."Andoni Iraola on Joe Gomez
Iraola has confirmed that Gomez will not feature again in pre-season, as well as missing the start of the Reds' Premier League campaign against Newcastle United at St James' Park on 23 August. Thereafter, Iraola's first game in charge at Anfield is against Nottingham Forest, before a trip to newly-promoted Ipswich to start September. It remains to be seen if Gomez will be back even by then but, for now, the Reds are extremely short of centre-back options.
Joe Gomez's injury history
Gomez is Liverpool's longest-serving player. He was actually signed from Charlton Athletic by Brendan Rodgers, there before Jürgen Klopp arrived and then after the German departed. However, his entire career on Merseyside has been blighted by injuries. Across 11 seasons, Gomez has appeared 274 times in all competitions, but has missed 229 matches due to various issues.
Throughout this period, he has never been first-choice, and that remains the case, but he would have seen serious minutes, both in pre-season and perhaps once the Premier League gets underway too, considering the lack of alternatives.
Liverpool's lack of central defenders
Once Gomez was withdrawn in the eighth minute at Geodis Park last weekend, Iraola had two 18 year olds as his centre-back pairing, namely Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe. The latter then started again in the Bronx on Wednesday, this time partnered by Luke Chambers. The 22 year old is a left-back by trade, but is a lot more experienced at senior level, having made 75 appearances during various loan spells at Kilmarnock, Wigan and Charlton, as well as four for Liverpool in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
Ndukwe though has been the player turning heads on this tour. The teenager, who has just arrived from Austria Wien for £2.6 million, has looked very assured during both pre-season matches to date. However, he won't be able to feature once the competitive action returns, as he does not meet the requirements to earn a UK work permit, so will have to be loaned out to a European club.
In terms of senior options, in Gomez's absence, Iraola is very limited. Having suffered a serious shoulder injury in February, one that required surgery, Iraola is being ultra-cautious with Jérémy Jacquet, yet to pick him in either pre-season game, despite the fact he is in full training. This though is expected to change against Leeds United at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Meantime, Giovanni Leoni is not yet available, still recovering from the Anterior cruciate ligament rupture he suffered on debut against Southampton in the EFL Cup last September. Lastly, having played more minutes for club and country than any other player in Europe last season, Virgil van Dijk has commenced his pre-season work this week at AXA Training Centre.
Iraola taking the sensible decision that there was no need for his captain, alongside Alisson and Cody Gakpo, to fly back across the Atlantic. Thus, losing Gomez for an extended period may not seem like a major blow but, considering the porosity of options, it certainly is.
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