Despite Philippe Coutinho’s predicament, it hasn’t been all bad news for Liverpool on the injury front.
The Brazilian will be out until the new year with an ankle injury suffered in the win over Sunderland at the weekend, but another long-term absentee is one step closer to a first-team return.
Joe Gomez hasn’t played since suffering a cruciate ligament injury on international duty with England’s Under-21 side more than a year ago, meaning he is yet to turn out for the Reds under Jürgen Klopp.
But he played 90 minutes for Liverpool’s Under-23s last week and has now done so again, as the team followed up their 4-0 win over Burnley with a goalless draw against Derby County.
Good win & clean sheet tonight… glad to get my first 90 mins… thank you for the messages #lfc ❤️ pic.twitter.com/drnykaJGSk
— Joe Gomez (@J_Gomez97) November 23, 2016
While the teenager’s preferred position is at centre-back, Gomez played on the left of a back four under Klopp’s predecessor Brendan Rodgers in the early part of last season.
Liverpool kept clean sheets in each of the former Charlton youngster’s first three appearances, but dropped to the bench after back-to-back defeats against West Ham and Manchester United.
According to a report from Liverpool’s official site, Gomez played as part of a back three alongside Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori, neither of whom have turned out for the first team this season.
Liverpool’s next game comes against Leeds United in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, before a trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.
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