Arne Slot rocked by fresh injury blow as Liverpool star leaves pre-season tour

Joe Gomez has flown home early from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia after picking up a minor Achilles injury. The defender expressed discomfort after Thursday’s training session at Kai Tak Stadium and will now head back to the UK.

Gomez was ruled out of Saturday’s friendly against AC Milan in Hong Kong and Wednesday’s game against Yokohama F Marinos in Japan and he will now receive medical attention on Merseyside.

Liverpool's hope is that Gomez's issue is not severe and won't sideline him long-term, reports the Athletic. The centre-half has continued to struggle for fitness, which has been a theme throughout his career. He only regained full fitness this summer after missing the final three months of last season due to a hamstring injury.

Ahead of this weekend's clash Arne Slot said on Gomez: “He was 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 every time goes out. So, we decided to let him go back to England. But we hope and expect to have him back soon.”

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Liverpool have already sold Jarrel Quansah this summer with the highly-rated young defender making the move to Bayer Leverkusen. Ibrahima Konate's future remains unclear with a year left on his deal, but he and Virgil van Dijk will be the two first choice defenders. There have been links with Marc Guehi as he considers leaving Crystal Palace.

On the fitness front Alexis Mac Allister has resumed full training after injury and is expected to be available to play for Liverpool when they play their in Japan next week.

Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have also both left out of the squad for the opening friendly of the tour of Asia due to continued uncertainty over their futures continues. Diaz is firmly on the radar Bayern Munich, who saw an initial offer of around £58million turned down, but may return with a new bid.

Nunez meanwhile has been inconsistent throughout his three years at Anfield and, following the signing of Hugo Ekitike, the Uruguayan is expected to seek pastures new. His and the club's immediate issue is finding a buyer.

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