Joe Gomez set for first-team return against Plymouth
Joe Gomez is set to make his return to first-team action in Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie with Plymouth Argyle, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed.
Defender Gomez has not featured for Liverpool’s senior side since October 2015 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on international duty with England U21s and a subsequent Achilles problem.
The 19-year-old has represented the Reds’ U23s six times since making his comeback in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Accrington Stanley in November, and is now in line to make his first appearance under Klopp this weekend.
“He’s in good shape. First game at Anfield for a long time - maybe it would not be the biggest surprise if he would be in the line-up, if nothing happens,” the boss said at his pre-match press conference this morning.
LFCTV GO: Watch Jürgen's pre-Plymouth press conference in full
Klopp was asked what it would mean to both him and Gomez should the teenager play against Plymouth after such a lengthy period out of the first-team frame.
“[It’s the] next step on a long way to go, he already had a long way and will still be but everything is good. That’s what we said when we spoke about it was not the idea to give him on loan to some other club,” he replied.
“It would be the next step and nice for all of us because he’s a wonderful boy and we are really happy for him that he’s fit now.
“He had a few games with the second team, he’s very self-critical because it was not always his absolute best, but that’s normal after a long period of injury and not playing football, so that’s all normal.
“But he’s on a good way, in training he looks really good, so it’s the logical next step.”