Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has suggested that he expects Joe Gomez to miss a number of games with the injury that he sustained against West Ham United on Sunday.
The Merseyside giants strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League table with a 5-0 victory at the London Stadium.
Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota all got on the scoresheet versus the Hammers.
However, when Liverpool were leading 1-0, Gomez needed to be replaced by Jarell Quansah after suffering a hamstring problem.
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What has Slot said on Gomez?
With Ibrahima Konate having been sidelined for a number of weeks, Gomez has played an important part in the backline alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Slot indicated that the England international will not be available again for a number of matches.
The Dutchman said: "You saw today an injury of Joe Gomez. If a player says he wants to stop, he has to be changed.
"In a sprint, then we all know it's a hamstring and we all know it's going take a while before he is back.
"I don't know how long but he will be out for quite a bit. These situations can happen in a season."
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Liverpool facing defensive issues
Although Liverpool are not back in action until January 5, they face a double-header against Manchester United in the Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup semi-finals upon their return.
As it stands, Quansah is the only other fit centre-back and may get the nod for the United game, with defensive-midfielder Wataru Endo an alternative if required.
However, Slot hinted before the West Ham game that Konate is making progress in his recovery and could begin to train with the rest of the squad within the next week.
With Liverpool sitting eight points clear of the chasing pack, Slot may be against taking any risks on the Frenchman.
Darren Plant
