Joe Gomez suffers ‘serious’ suspected knee injury while on England duty in another big defensive blow for Liverpool

LIVERPOOL have been dealt another defensive blow after Joe Gomez was feared to have suffered a serious knee injury on England duty.

The 23-year-old centre-back will definitely miss tomorrow night’s international friendly against Republic of Ireland.

Joe Gomez is feared to have suffered a ‘serious’ injury on England duty

England train at St George’s Park ahead of fixtures against Ireland, Belgium and Iceland

It’s not yet clear how long Gomez will be sidelined, with the FA yet to comment on the incident which is understood to have taken place during Wednesday morning’s training session.

But it’s another worrying development for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who has seen his defence decimated by injuries.

Virgil van Dijk is out for the season with knee ligament damage while right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold faces up to a month on the sidelines with a calf injury.

The Reds have only just welcomed back Joel Matip to their depleted backline, but makeshift centre-back Fabinho is also out.

Liverpool have been forced to play 19-year-old Rhys Williams and last year’s outcast Nat Phillips already this season.

Klopp will be fuming that Gomez suffered the injury in the run-up to an international friendly.

The German coach has previously spoken out against players’ hectic schedules amid the truncated season caused by Covid-19.

Last week, he said: “We played [last month] after the international break at 12.30 on Saturday at Everton. Some of my players were coming back from Peru.

‘These kind of things should not happen.”

Joe Gomez in action for Liverpool in their 1-1 draw at Man City on Sunday

Gomez has started all but one of Liverpool’s Premier League games this season.

But the former Charlton ace does have a chequered past with injuries.

He ruptured his ACL on England Under-21 duty in October 2015 before tearing ankle ligaments in March 2018.

The unlucky star went on to fracture his leg in the same year – missing the 2018 Champions League final.

The Reds continue their title defence against Leicester next weekend after the international break.

They also have Champions League clashes with Ajax and Atalanta on the horizon before a busy festive period in the Premier League.

England, meanwhile, face Republic of Ireland on Thursday night before Nations League clashes with Belgium and Iceland.