Liverpool’s pre-season victory was overshadowed by a significant blow as Joe Gomez suffered an early injury in their 4-2 triumph over Sunderland in Nashville. The 29-year-old defender, Liverpool’s longest-serving player, was forced off within the opening 10 minutes due to a muscle problem, casting a shadow over Andoni Iraola’s debut win as Liverpool manager.
Gomez’s injury marks a severe setback given Liverpool’s already depleted defensive roster. Captain Virgil van Dijk remains sidelined following the World Cup, while new signing Jeremy Jacquet is still regaining fitness from a shoulder injury and is unlikely to feature until the final match of the pre-season tour. Additionally, Giovanni Leoni continues his recovery from an ACL injury sustained early last season, leaving Liverpool dangerously thin at the back.
Speaking after the match, Iraola did not mince words about the severity of the situation. “Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe,” he stated. “We were happy because we were kind of going through all the training without losing any player. Unluckily for us, straight away we've lost Joe.”
Despite the defensive concerns, Liverpool showcased an attacking flair with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, Kieran Morrison, and Lewis Koumas securing the win. The Reds will look to build on this momentum when they face Wrexham on Thursday.
Liverpool’s pre-season squad will also see the arrival of new signings Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Ryan Gravenberch, all scheduled to begin training on Sunday, providing fresh options as the team navigates through injury challenges.
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