Arne Slot reveals Joe Gomez expectation amid transfer speculation | OneFootball

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot expects Joe Gomez to stay at the club beyond the transfer deadline, despite speculation regarding the defender's future.

The 27-year-old was left out of the Reds' squad for their Premier League opener away at Ipswich Town, leading to suggestions that he could seek an exit this window.

90min revealed earlier this week that Aston Villa had identified Gomez as a target in their search for a versatile defender, with Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah also on their shortlist.

But ahead of Liverpool's meeting with Brentford on Sunday, Slot explained why Gomez didn't feature at Portman Road last week and attempted to dampen talk of an exit.

"He has worked really hard since he came back," Slot said. "He didn't play a lot in the Euros and when he came back in the first sessions he couldn't train the whole session so we had to manage his load and that was also a bit a reason why he wasn’t in the team last weekend.

"This week he had a good week in terms of load and how much he could do with the team. He is one of the players that I see new things from.

Slot is unconcerned about Liverpool's transfer activity / Julian Finney/GettyImages

"At this moment I am expecting everyone to be here (when the window shuts) but you are maybe even longer in football than I am looking at you, a little bit older than me! Everything can change."

Liverpool remain the only Premier League side who have not made a new signing this summer, and Slot was asked if he was worried about a lack of movement on that front.

"No, because I trust the team," the Dutchman replied. "I inherited a really good team, a team of many young players as well and I think we all know, especially young players they can develop.

"We just try to work as hard as we can with them and trust them a lot. They proved last week they have earned this trust and I am hoping they can show the same on Sunday as well."