Liverpool injury latest and return dates as Andoni Iraola issues Joe Gomez update
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Liverpool.com or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool has been handed a fresh injury blow after just its first pre-season game, with Joe Gomez the latest to add to Andoni Iraola's worries ahead of the 2026/27 campaignJoe Gomez was forced off just 10 minutes into Liverpool's opening pre-season friendly(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool had barely kicked off its first pre-season under Andoni Iraola before the new head coach was handed a fresh injury worry.Just 10 minutes into the 4-2 win over Sunderland on Saturday, Joe Gomez was forced off injured, handing his new boss yet another headache as doubts over the Reds’ options in defense grow.Before a ball had even been kicked in Nashville, Liverpool was already without five senior players, with three of those coming from the back line. Gomez now becomes the latest addition to an already alarming injury list, with less than a month to go until the Reds kick off the 2026/27 campaign against Newcastle.Here is the latest on the injury front for Liverpool, including an update on Gomez’s injury following Saturday’s friendly…Joe GomezGomez is in the all-too familiar position of waiting to find out the full extent of his injury after being forced off just 10 minutes into Saturday's opening friendly.Iraola was unable to give a diagnosis straight after the game, but the defender did seem to be struggling with a muscle problem, having had hamstring issues in the past.“Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe," Iraola said on Saturday.
Unluckily for us, straight away we've lost Joe.”Possible return date: UnknownJeremy JacquetJeremy Jacquet was something of a surprise omission against Sunderland, having begun training Liverpool a week before pre-season had even officially started.Jeremy Jacquet was left out of the squad against Sunderland(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Having missed the final few months of last season at Rennes after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury, Iraola has explained he is being cautious with the defender, who is set to miss the midweek game against Wrexham but expected to play a part in the final game of the US tour.Possible return date: August 2 vs Leeds (pre-season)Giovanni LeoniGiovanni Leoni remains unavailable as he continues his recovery following the ACL injury he sustained on his debut against Southampton last September.Iraola has indicated that the young defender is the closest of the three long-term injuries to a return, and he is expected to play some part during pre-season. Whether he will get some minutes while out in the US remains to be seen.Possible return date: AugustConor BradleyConor Bradley had been hoped to be able to make a return shortly after the start of the new season, although Iraola has now admitted that won't be the case.Conor Bradley is still some way off a return(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)The right-back sustained a serious knee injury against Arsenal back in January, and although he has joined Liverpool in the US, Iraola has indicated he still has "months" to go in his recovery.Possible return date: November/DecemberWataru EndoWataru Endo should be able to make a return to training soon.
Iraola previously indicated that both he and Stefan Bajcetic were nearly back in training, and with the latter being spotted with the rest of his teammates during the week, Endo shouldn't be too far behind.Possible return date: AugustGet Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Having ruptured his Achilles against Paris Saint-Germain in April, he has had to use a cane to help him walk recently, which gives a good indication of how far off a return he is.Reports have suggested that Ekitike is targeting a comeback during the festive period, potentially for Liverpool's Boxing Day fixture against Hull City.