Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Joe Gomez has returned to contention for the first-team squad after making a complete recovery from a foot problem. The England international has been sidelined with the injury since December, but he has managed to return to the mix after an hour-long run-out with the Under 23s.
Speaking in a press conference, Klopp revealed that Gomez is available for selection for the first-team after missing nearly four months of action, he said: “Absolutely [he looks strong]. Ox and Joe both did really well at Leicester, it was a brilliant game by all of the boys, to be honest, I watched it back. It looked really good.
“It’s clear they still need time to get full match fitness but it’s nice to have them back and now Joe first as an option. He played right full-back, we need him as this option as well. We all know he played a wonderful season at the centre-half position until his injury, but he can play both and it’s good to have him.”
Alongside Gomez, “Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has returned to the fray but Klopp has confirmed that he is not prepared to risk the Englishman“ until he has completely recovered from a serious knee injury picked up 12 months ago. Liverpool are currently at the top of the Premier League standings with 82 points but they have played an extra game more than Manchester City, “who are just two“ points behind them.
As such, they need a favour from one of their rivals in order to usurp the holders and it remains to be seen whether they can secure a maiden league crown. Elsewhere, the Reds have a 2-0 advantage after the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Porto and they are very much favourites to reach the semi-final stage ahead of the return leg on Wednesday night.