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Liverpool fans may already be concerned about who exactly will fill in at right-back on Monday against Newcastle United, following updates from Arne Slot in his pre-match press conference.
In Thursday’s briefing, the Liverpool head coach revealed that Jeremie Frimpong will not feature again this month due to a hamstring issue, ruling him out of the upcoming Newcastle and Arsenal clashes. Conor Bradley, the obvious replacement on the right of defense, is back in training, but whether he is fit to start remains in doubt.
And there was another blow with Slot revealing Joe Gomez has struggled to train since Friday’s win over Bournemouth, during which he came off the bench in the second half following a pre-season blighted by injury.
“There are options we can definitely explore [at right],” explained the former Feyenoord boss. “Joe Gomez is definitely one of them, but for him to play 20 minutes [this season] is already quite a lot.
"I wouldn’t say he had a setback, but he wasn't able to train with us three days in a row completely with the team, which is completely normal if you have been out for so long and all of a sudden the manager needs you for 20 minutes.
"He is training with the team, so let’s see where he is on Monday, if he can be involved in the team, or if he can even start.”
Therefore, images released a few hours after those comments, showing Gomez training at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre, will have been well received by supporters.
The defender, who hasn’t started a Premier League match since December due to a hamstring injury, was filmed by the club’s in-house media team as he worked in the gym with his Liverpool team-mates, before he was then spotted on the grass as the squad went through some sprint exercise.
James McConnell, who has also been struggling with injury concerns since the end of last season, was also among the players Slot's coaching team put through their paces at Kirkby.
But it’s the sight of Gomez that will hopefully alleviate some concern from Liverpool fans ahead of a clash against Newcastle’s rapid attackers.
Wateru Endo, who briefly filled in at right-back last Friday was suggested as another alternative by Slot, as was Dominik Szoboszlai - although the latter seems an unlikely solution.
Whether the Hungarian starts in midfield is also uncertain following the return from suspension of Ryan Gravenberch, who Slot hinted will partner Alexis Mac Allister in the middle at St James’ Park.
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