Liverpool manager Arne Slot is optimistic that Joe Gomez has avoided a major injury after the defender was forced off early in their shocking FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle.
Gomez, wearing the captain’s armband in his first game back since December, lasted just 11 minutes before signaling discomfort and making way for Isaac Mabaya.
The 27-year-old appeared to feel something in his hamstring after an early sprint, raising concerns over a potential recurrence of the injury that had sidelined him for the past ten matches.
Speaking after the game, Slot admitted he was unsure if the issue was in the same leg but remained hopeful it wasn’t too serious.
“I’m not too sure if it’s the same leg, but I haven’t had time to ask him,” Slot said. “We all saw the moment he felt something—he stopped sprinting back. He told me he wasn’t 100% sure and was afraid that pushing further could make things worse. I don’t think it’s torn, but it didn’t feel good for him.”
Liverpool’s squad selection was already stretched, with Curtis Jones also declaring himself unfit before kickoff. This led to more youngsters featuring than originally planned, but Slot insisted there was still enough quality to get a better result than their 1-0 loss, which came courtesy of a Ryan Hardie penalty.
Despite the defeat, Slot defended his decision to rest key players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, arguing that squad rotation was necessary.
“You never know what would have happened if we’d played our usual starters,” he said. “It was a tough game with constant long balls and second balls—difficult for any team. Some of these players needed game time to be ready for the final three months of the season.”
Liverpool will now shift focus to their upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton, where Slot is expected to name a much stronger lineup.