Joe Gomez has been left out of Liverpool’s squad for their season opener against Ipswich as he explores his options this summer.
The Reds centre-back has fallen down the pecking order at the club and is now considering his future. Gomez, 27, is keen for regular first-team football at centre-back and is not sure if he will get it under new boss Arne Slot at Anfield.
The England defender hasn’t asked to leave but is looking at his options. Gomez joined Liverpool in 2015 and has played 224 games for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp.
But injuries and competition for places has meant he’s never really nailed down a spot as one of the first names on the teamsheet.Gomez didn’t travel to the US this summer on the club’s tour as he was at the Euros with England, but didn’t play a minute in the tournament.
He believes if he can get regular first-team football then he can move up the pecking order at international level as well with a new manager coming in and Lee Carsley in temporary charge.Liverpool paid around £5m for Gomez when they signed him from Charlton in 2015.
They would need a significant fee to part with him this summer as he still has three years left on his contract. Gomez signed new terms in 2022.Gomez began campaigns as Virgil van Dijk’s preferred partner but injuries interrupted his progress.
Now it looks like Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate are ahead of him in the pecking order to play alongside Van Dijk.While he is versatile and can fill in at full-back, he also has players ahead of him in those positions.
Slot named Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back for the Ipswich game, with Andy Robertson on the left.Liverpool’s opponents Ipswich named a number of their summer signings in the starting XI for the Reds’ visit to Portman Road. Jacob Greaves, Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap all began the game, with Kalvin Phillips and Sammie Szmodics on the bench after arriving on Friday.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the game, Slot recognised there has been plenty of change in the number six role at Anfield over the last 12 months. The Reds have missed out on target Martin Zubimendi, and the manager opted to start Ryan Gravenberch at Portman Road.
I think he has the attributes to play there,” Slot said. “He has to develop in this position, that’s also clear, but he’s comfortable with the ball, he can run, he can keep running, and then Macca can play a bit higher up the pitch which fits him really well.”
