‘Liverpool ace out of pre-season tour, flies home with injury’
Arne Slot is already one player down for the rest of the pre-season tour as Liverpool prepare for the 2025/26 campaign away from Anfield.
The Reds have jetted out to Hong Kong ahead of friendly fixtures against AC Milan, Yokahama F.Marinos, and Athletic Club, before facing Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.
Hugo Ekitike joins a star-studded lineup at Anfield, joining Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz from the Bundesliga, as well as flying full-back Milos Kerkez arriving from Bournemouth.
Supporters are excited for the new campaign to begin, having been left disappointed by early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, but still managed to celebrate a simple walk to the Premier League title.
Alexander Isak could yet be added to the Liverpool squad over the coming weeks, with the Sweden international pushing to leave Newcastle United, but Slot now has a new concern to worry about.
Joe Gomez jets home from pre-season tour
Taking to X (26 July), The Athletic’s James Pearce wrote: “Joe Gomez has flown home from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia due to a minor Achilles injury”.
The 28-year-old missed most of the 2024/25 season through a hamstring injury, only managing nine Premier League appearances, and the defender now appears to have been handed a further setback.
Arne Slot to green light another Liverpool exit
The Reds have already sold Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, and also Nathan Phillips, leaving Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as the main centre-back duo.
Even so, Gomez has long been linked with a Liverpool exit, with Mick Brown telling Football Insider that the defender is fed up at Anfield and is open to a summer switch to West Ham.
While there has yet to be movement in the summer transfer window for the 28-year-old, the latest setback is likely to push Slot into a cut-throat decision, rather than keep him on the sidelines for another season.
Football Insider understands that Liverpool are increasingly likely to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, which would force any remaining central defenders out the exit doors in the coming weeks.
The manager means business, wanting to build on their Premier League title by pushing for further success, and speaking to Liverpool News 247 (23 July), Dan Plumley revealed that the club also remain on the right side of PSR.
Wirtz, Frimpong, Kerkez, and Ekitike all being signed in the same window sends a huge message to the rest of the Premier League, and those surrounding teams are certainly paying attention this summer.