Football
ESPN staff 8y

Liverpool's Joe Gomez out with injury ahead of 2016-17 season - reports

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has suffered an Achilles injury during preseason, according to multiple newspaper reports.

Gomez, 19, had been working his way back to full fitness after he sustained a cruciate ligament injury while on England under-21 duty in October.

The former Charlton Athletic player, who signed for the Reds last summer, has yet to feature in a competitive game under manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Liverpool Echo reports Gomez is set to miss the start of the new season, which begins for Liverpool at Arsenal on Aug. 14.

The Daily Telegraph and The Times add that the club could be forced into the transfer market, with Martin Skrtel joining Fenerbahce and Kolo Toure having left Anfield.

Gomez's absence, coupled with centre-back Mamadou Sakho also struggling with injury, means more pressure on new signing Joel Matip to hit the ground running in the Premier League.

"I am very good under high balls, especially at corners and set pieces," the Cameroon international said.

"The Premier League is much more physical and I will have to adapt a little bit because the style of play is a little different. But I have enough self-confidence to say that I am good enough for it.

"I had 16 years at Schalke, it was my hometown club I grew up there my whole life and it was a big decision to leave. It wasn't easy to leave. But it was an easy decision to decide to join Liverpool.

"When I was a child I wanted to play the Premier League and Liverpool was a great and famous club that everybody knows, so it was a great honour to be playing for them.

"I had a decision to stay at Schalke or go out in to the world and I am happy with the decision I made."

^ Back to Top ^