Softfootball can report that Liverpool’s defender Joe Gomez has left the preseason tour in Hong Kong due to injury.
Liverpool made the announcement that Gomez has returned to Merseyside for treatment on an Achilles problem, ruling him out of the club’s preseason clash with AC Milan in Hong Kong.
Gomez initially travelled with the squad for the early stages of their Asia tour but has now flown back to the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby after struggling with discomfort in his Achilles tendon.
New Reds boss Arne Slot, speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.com, explained the reasoning behind the decision, suggesting that recovery away from the rigours of travel and group training will give the defender the best chance of returning to action swiftly.
He told the club media:
“He was, of course, with us for the first part of the week.” “But he had some Achilles problems. We thought it was better to assess it back in England and for him to work on him to come back to the team probably in more ideal circumstances for him than be part of the group that goes out every time.”
“So, we decided to let him go back to England. But we hope and expect to have him back soon.”
The report has it that the coaching staff are taking a cautious approach with fitness concerns ahead of what promises to be a high-intensity season.
The Reds are currently preparing for their penultimate pre-season fixture against Serie A giants AC Milan at the Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday, before returning to Europe for their final pre-season matches.
Slot has used the pre-season tour to assess his squad in full, giving several academy stars a chance to impress while managing the minutes of senior regulars. However, this latest setback is a reminder of the delicate balancing act ahead of Liverpool’s 2025/26 campaign.
Meanwhile, Liverpool is still in the race for Alexander Isak, who has told Newcastle that he wants to leave St. James Park. However, the duo of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz was said to have been absent in Liverpool’s ongoing game against Milan in Hong Kong. Softfootball reported that the absence of this player sparked the conversation of their imminent transfer away from Liverpool that has been ringing lately.
