Why Joe Gomez was left out by Arne Slot as Liverpool defender considers future.
Joe Gomez could leave Liverpool before the transfer deadline after being left out of the squad for the Premier League opener at Ipswich Town.
Joe Gomez is considering his future after being left out of the first Premier League matchday squad of the season by new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. Gomez didn't travel to Portman Road for the clash against promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday lunchtime..
The 27-year-old was given only 16 minutes during the friendly win over Sevilla last weekend, a game fellow centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Jarell Quansah started while Ibrahima Konate began the warm-up match against Las Palmas later the same day.
Gomez, who is the longest-serving player at Liverpool, has seen his Anfield career thrown into doubt in recent weeks
The Reds accepted a £45million bid from Newcastle United for the England international earlier this summer as part of a move that would have seen Anthony Gordon go in the opposite direction for £75m, only for the Magpies to pull the plug on the deal.
Newcastle still retain an interest in the player despite subsequently turning their attentions to Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, for whom they have had a latest bid of £65m rejected.
Aston Villa are also monitoring the situation of Gomez, who is also being courted by a number of other clubs from both the Premier League and abroad.
Liverpool are understood to not be looking to actively sell the player and will leave the decision to the defender, with Slot happy for the player to fight his way back into contention.
Goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, defenders Sepp van den Berg and Nat Phillips, midfielder Tyler Morton and young wingers Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon all also failed to make the bench at Ipswich. Jaros, though, was part of the travelling party and warmed up with goalkeepers Alisson Becker and Caoimhin Kelleher.
Several of those players are expected to leave Liverpool before the transfer window closes in less than a fortnight, either on a permanent or temporary basis.