Liverpool faces trouble as Iraola reveals the latest bad news shaking the team before the Premier League season starts.
On 31 July 2026, Andoni Iraola, Liverpool's manager, disclosed the latest bad news during their pre-season tour in the United States, preparing the team ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season, having played two matches so far.
Versatile defender Joe Gomez suffered a muscle injury that forced him off the field in the 8th minute of Liverpool's first match, a 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, 25 July.
Recently, Andoni Iraola revealed that Joe Gomez may need about a month to recover from his injury, which could cause him to miss Liverpool’s 2026-27 Premier League season opener away at Newcastle United on Sunday, 23 August.
The Liverpool manager explained, "Joe has a muscle injury. I think it's quite clear because he reported the pain immediately after it happened. It depends on how his condition develops, but he will need several weeks to rest."
"It's a muscle injury, so it's difficult to specify an exact recovery time in days. Normally, I estimate about one month. If everything goes well, the recovery might be a bit shorter, but if not, it could take a little longer."
"It’s not a severe injury, just a common muscle strain, but I think it’s impossible to have him ready for the season opener since time is running out. However, the recovery period likely won't be much longer than that."
Liverpool recently lost Ibrahima Konaté, who left after his contract ended to join Real Madrid, while new defender Jérémy Doku has yet to play in pre-season. Captain Virgil van Dijk has just rejoined after completing his duties with the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.
