Liverpool saw Joe Gomez collapse within 10 minutes of Saturday’s pre-season trip as Andoni Iraola lamented fitness issues and the need for new signings.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is already addressing his team’s problems
Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola admitted it was “worst news” that Joe Gomez missed 10 minutes due to a pre-season injury.
The Reds played in Nashville, defeating fellow Premier League side Sunderland 4-2, but suffered major injuries. Gomez has had significant fitness issues and has once again spent time on the sidelines, raising further questions about the team’s backline options.
Gomez, 29, started just seven games in the Premier League last season and Liverpool are currently anxiously awaiting the severity of Gomez’s injury.
Iraola took over from Arne Slott and took over a team that included Jeremy Jaquet. The young defender signed from Rennes in January and remained at the French club until the end of the summer, but the depth at the back is now being tested.
Iraola told LFCTV: “Probably the worst news was that Joe was injured so soon. We were happy because we continued training without losing a player, but unfortunately for us we lost Joe so soon.”
“As for Jeremy, we decided to take it easy with him. He has spent months without playing and has been training very well, but we are going to take it easy with him. He will probably play in the last game of this US tour and he will have time to play a few minutes. But we were kind of happy, but now we have lost one.”
Jacquet, who returned £55m to the Reds, missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury and was left out of Liverpool’s win as a precaution.
Joe Gomez lasted less than 10 minutes Saturday night.
Given Gomez’s injury, Iraola admitted after the win in the United States that Liverpool’s defense was “very thin”, but this comes after Ibrahima Konate left for Real Madrid on a free transfer. Giovanni Leoni continues to work his way back to fitness after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last September.
ESPN reported that Liverpool are not considering signing a centre-half as a priority despite losing Konate, but recent injuries could force a change. Defense leader Virgil van Dijk has just turned 35 and has only one year left on his contract.
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