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Arne Slot has confirmed that Joe Gomez is not fit for Sunday’s clash against Everton.
Gomez has battled through a series of niggling issues this term, including a knee problem that required an injection earlier in the season and a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for a significant stretch.
Even when he has returned to the fold, Liverpool have been cautious with his minutes, wary of risking a serious setback given his well-documented history with long-term injuries.
Most recently, the 28-year-old was brought on as a substitute in Liverpool’s Champions League clash with PSG at Anfield, only to be taken off again just 22 minutes later – with Slot citing a precautionary decision after Gomez flagged discomfort and told his manager he was unsure he could continue sprinting at full pace.
It was a worrying sight for supporters who have seen the Englishman’s career repeatedly disrupted by injury, and it now appears that knock has contributed to his absence from Sunday’s squad.
When quizzed on whether the right-back is available during his pre-Everton press conference, the Arne Slot imply said; “No.”
The timing is far from ideal, with Liverpool’s defensive options already stretched following the long-term absences of Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni. Slot will be forced to shuffle his resources once again as the Reds look to navigate a congested run-in while holding onto their ambitions in the Premier League.
Liverpool will hope that this latest issue does not develop into anything long term, but for now the focus is on finding an alternative solution on the right side of defence while Gomez works his way back to full sharpness in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Dutchman also spoke about Hugo Ekitike and revealed that the Frenchman is yet to undergo surgery for his Achilles tendon rupture.
