Jurgen Klopp will likely wave his Liverpool stars away for the international break with a smile full of gritted teeth. Somewhat ironically, though, his greatest fear came to haunt him before his squad had even finished their club duties.
As the Reds seemed to be easing their way to a vital 2-0 away victory against Arsenal, Trent Alexander-Arnold began to move very uncomfortably. Klopp hauled his right-back off the pitch and likely crossed his fingers while the England ace hobbled down the tunnel.
Unfortunately, the news has not been good for Klopp, or Gareth Southgate, as the defensive maestro is reportedly set for a long spell on the sidelines. "Trent is out with a hamstring, so he cannot be part of England too," Klopp said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool ’s FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest. "Not good news, we will see how long that takes."
The evident concern and worry in Klopp’s voice suggests this could be a damaging one for the 23-year-old. But while Alexander-Arnold, Klopp, and Southgate await the timescale of his pending injury anguish, an opportunity may well have opened up for forgotten Liverpool and England man Joe Gomez.
Considering the fact Gomez has only started six matches in all competitions this season, it’s easy to forget that he was Virgil van Dijk’s main central defensive partnership in their Premier League and Champions League title triumphs. He also appeared to be Southgate’s first choice defender to play alongside Harry Maguire, as the England boss turned to the 24-year-old in their run to the Nations League semi-finals.
Can Joe Gomez recapture his place in the starting elevens of Liverpool and England? Let us know in the comments
Unfortunately, Gomez was one of three Liverpool defenders to suffer season ending injuries in the previous campaign. Joel Matip’s outstanding form and Ibrahima Konate’s arrival have also seen him tumble down the pecking order.
But Alexander-Arnold’s injury may see Klopp lean on the former Charlton defender again, albeit as a makeshift right-back. Gomez garnered Klopp’s trust from full back, before his promotion to Van Dijk’s side. While Gomez’s threat marauding forward does not come close to matching Alexander-Arnold’s sensational range of passes, he does provide an extra defensive solidity on Liverpool’s right side.
With no Alexander-Arnold bombing forward, Mohamed Salah will not have as many defensive responsibilities, while also freeing Jordan Henderson from his usual responsibilities of covering the space departed by Alexander-Arnold. “I don't know any player who plays like Trent, so its difficult to find a one-to-one replacement,” Klopp added.
"We have Milly [Milner], Joe, theoretically we can change the system as well, these kind of things. So we have a couple of options.” England’s array of top quality right backs will mean Gomez is not in the conversation to fill the Alexander-Arnold shaped hole in Southgate’s plans.
But some good performances at right-back for Liverpool could see Klopp and Southgate hand Gomez more opportunities from central defence. Gomez has every attribute of the modern central defender except a blank injury record.
Gomez has managed to recover from injury heartbreak on numerous occasions in his career. And if he takes any and all opportunities that may come his way amid Alexander-Arnold’s injury, then he could recoup his Liverpool and England place just in time for the World Cup.
