Arne Slot Shares Injury Update After Joe Gomez Limps Off Against Plymouth | OneFootball

Arne Slot Offers Update on Joe Gomez Injury Scare

Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, has shed light on the latest setback for Joe Gomez after the defender requested to be substituted early in the Reds’ shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

The 27-year-old, who captained a much-rotated Liverpool side, lasted just ten minutes at Home Park before signalling to the bench. Slot confirmed that Gomez, still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in December’s 5-0 win over West Ham, felt uneasy continuing and feared worsening the issue.

“I am not too sure if it was the same leg,” Slot told reporters after the 1-0 loss, sealed by Ryan Hardie’s penalty following Harvey Elliott’s handball. “It was clear—we all saw the moment he felt insecure because he didn’t sprint back fully. Then he said, ‘I am not 100 per cent sure, and I’m afraid if I make one extra sprint, things will go wrong.’”

Photo: IMAGO

Injury Concerns Mount For Liverpool

Slot admitted he hadn’t yet confirmed whether Gomez had re-injured his hamstring but suggested the issue might not be as serious as feared.

“It’s not torn, I assume, but it didn’t feel good for him,” Slot said.

To make matters worse for Liverpool, Curtis Jones, who was expected to feature, ruled himself out on the morning of the match after failing to recover from a previous knock.

“Curtis came to me this morning and said, ‘I don’t think I am fully recovered yet’ after yesterday’s training session,” Slot revealed.

These setbacks forced Slot to rely on younger players, including full-back Isaac Mabaya, who replaced Gomez early in the game before being substituted himself later as Liverpool chased the equaliser.

Liverpool’s Rotation Gamble Backfires

With Liverpool leading the Premier League, Slot took the opportunity to rest key defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, neither of whom made the bench. The gamble, however, didn’t pay off. Despite the influx of youth on the pitch, Slot maintained that Liverpool had enough quality to secure a better result.

“There was enough quality on the pitch to get a better result than this,” Slot insisted.

The defeat to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle highlights the risk of squad rotation during a congested season. As Liverpool continue their push for domestic and European honours, Slot will hope Gomez’s injury is nothing more than a precautionary scare.