Arne Slot admits Joe Gomez’s injury concern after early substitution

Arne Slot has admitted that Joe Gomez’s injury “didn’t feel good for him” after the Liverpool defender was forced off just 10 minutes into Sunday’s FA Cup clash at Plymouth.

The 27-year-old was one of the most experienced players on the pitch as Slot made several changes to his lineup for the trip to Home Park.

However, the decision backfired as Liverpool suffered a surprising defeat.

Gomez lasted only a short time before being replaced by debutant Isaac Mabaya.

Slot confirmed that he did not yet have a full diagnosis on the injury but acknowledged it was clear early on that Gomez would be unable to continue, forcing him into an early reshuffle.

Slot’s troubles began even before the match kicked off when Curtis Jones, who is returning from an injury layoff, informed his manager that he wasn’t yet fully fit.

As a result, Jones remained on the bench throughout the match, with Liverpool lacking both experience and a spark as they chased the game at Home Park.

Slot said on Gomez’s injury: “I am not too sure.

“I am not too sure if it was the same leg, but I haven’t had time to ask him.

“It was clear, I think we all know which moment he felt a bit insecure about [it] because he didn’t sprint back fully.

“Then he said, ‘I am not 100 per cent sure and I am afraid if I make one extra sprint things will go wrong.’

“It’s not torn I assume, but it didn’t feel good for him.

“That was a bit of a blow because Curtis Jones was on the bench, but he came to me this morning and said, ‘I don’t think I am fully recovered yet’ as well after the training session of yesterday.

“That all of a sudden led to the fact we were with a few more youngsters on the pitch than was the idea before the game, but still there was enough quality on the pitch to get a better result than this.”

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