It looks like Joe Gomez is going to get an extended run in the side next to Virgil van Dijk.
That’s because Joel Matip is out until the New Year and Jurgen Klopp gave reporters bad news on Dejan Lovren today during his press-conference.
“Out. Muscle this time. We don’t have a time frame,” he began.
“It’s a concern. Not too cool. At the moment we have two and we should take care of them, wrap them in cotton wool. We have the kids – Ki-Jana and Sepp.”
Klopp’s comments indicate that the Croat won’t be available any time soon and his refusal to offer a timeframe enhances that feeling.
One one hand, it’s a worry – as Gomez is fairly injury prone himself and if the Englishman picks up a problem, we’ll have to field one of our Academy Dutch lads at the back or convert a midfielder – perhaps Jordan Henderson considering Fabinho is also unavailable.
But on the other, it does provide Gomez an extended opportunity in his favoured position…
He was exceptional in the role at the start of last season before an injury saw him sidelined, so we’re hoping he regains that form.
In fairness, in the past two games he’s had to cover for Lovren, we’ve kept clean-sheets – so hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.