Liverpool's Joe Gomez injured in pre-season; Iraola calls it 'worst news'

Published Jul 26, 07:19 AM UTC

New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola described Joe Gomez's early pre-season injury as 'the worst news' after the defender went down within 10 minutes of a friendly against Sunderland in Nashville. Gomez, 29, has a history of fitness issues and started only seven Premier League games last season. The injury exacerbates Liverpool's defensive crisis following Ibrahima Konate's free transfer to Real Madrid, with Giovanni Leoni still recovering from an ACL rupture and new £55 million signing Jeremy Jacquet being eased back from a shoulder injury. Iraola admitted the defense is 'very thin' and the club may be forced into the transfer market for a centre-half, despite previously not prioritizing that position. Virgil van Dijk, now 35, has only one year left on his contract.