Joe Gomez surgery a success – but Liverpool remain cagey over absence

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has undergone surgery on the knee injury – but no timescale has been put on his projected return.

The centre-back damaged a tendon in his left knee while training with England on Wednesday. He has now had a successful procedure to repair the problem.

The Reds have confirmed there was no ligament damage, but did not put a timescale on his return.

A statement on Liverpool’s website read: “The operation to correct the damage, which took place in London on Thursday morning, was a success and the 23-year-old will make a full recovery.

“Gomez will begin a rehabilitation programme with the Reds’ medical team immediately, with club staff carefully monitoring his progress.

“No timescale is being placed upon his return, though the issue is likely to rule him out for a significant part of the remainder of 2020-21.”

Earlier reports stated Gomez fears he could miss the European Champions next summer.

The Daily Mail reports that the 23-year-old is fearing the worst-case scenario, which would also end his domestic campaign.

Indeed, Liverpool had been preparing for a ‘lengthy’ lay-off due to a ‘significant’ injury.

England boss Gareth Southgate admitted that it was “not a good situation”.

 

Sat next to him in the press briefing was Three Lions goalkeeper Nick Pope. The Burnley stopper offered his own perspective on how Gomez suffered the injury.

“He made a pass or a movement with no-one around him and ended up on the floor, obviously in distress or in pain,” the 28-year-old said.

“As a football player being on the pitch you know when something doesn’t seem right so you could see he was in a great deal of pain.

“When you see one of your friends or teammates go through that it’s not easy so it wasn’t easy for me or any of the lads.”

 


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Redknapp fears for Liverpool in transfer market

Liverpool, meanwhile, could find themselves having to pay over the odds for a new centre-half in January with other teams ‘smelling their desperation’.

That’s the verdict of Jamie Redknapp, who feels it is now certain his former side will splash the cash on a new defender.

“It’s a difficult one. I’ve heard people say that they’ve got to go out and get a really big signing because Virgil is going to be injured,” he said.

“You don’t want to bring in someone for the sake of it for £40m or £50m. More so when you know you’ve got someone coming back really quickly.

“But if you’ve lost Gomez as well, you’re certainly looking to get into the market. They may try and bring in someone in January.

“Be it a loan, be it a signing – but it’s not going to be easy to get players in.

“Your hands are tied to a certain extent because straight away. Everyone knows you’re desperate so the prices are going to get inflated.”

 

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool considering move for Dutch defensive star after glowing Gini Wijnaldum reference