Joe Gomez injury: Jurgen Klopp suffers first Liverpool setback as defender is ruled out for six months

(Reuters)

Jürgen Klopp has suffered his first set-back as Liverpool manager with the news Joe Gomez, the England Under-21 international, is believed to have sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury that will make him miss the next six months at least.

Klopp had sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old at Charlton Athletic last season and was said to be considering a move for the defender before deciding to leave Borussia Dortmund himself.

Having joined Liverpool in the summer, Gomez impressed with a series of solid performances in Brendan Rodgers’ defence.

He was injured while representing his country in the latter stages of a 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan in an Under-21 European Championship qualifier in Coventry on Tuesday night.

Upon returning to Melwood, Liverpool’s training base, Gomez underwent a series of scans and it is feared that he has ruptured his ACL. The recovery process for such an injury can last up to nine months.

Klopp was able to cast his eye over all of the Liverpool players he has inherited from Rodgers for the first time yesterday after everyone else reported back from international duty in rude health.

Zeljko Buvac, Klopp’s trusted assistant, was able to work for the first time having been issued with a work permit. The Bosnian will be on the bench when Liverpool face Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday, Klopp’s first game in charge.