Liverpool’s pre-season preparations have taken a worrying turn, as defender Joe Gomez has been forced to exit the club’s Asia tour due to an Achilles issue. This latest development has cast fresh doubts over the Reds’ depth at centre-back – and could spark urgent action in the transfer market. 👀

Gomez, who was part of the 29-man squad in Hong Kong, has now flown back to Merseyside for treatment. With Liverpool set to face Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan on Wednesday, the coaching staff opted to send the defender home rather than risk further complications.

🛬 New boy Hugo Ekitike has just joined the squad after sealing his move from Eintracht Frankfurt, but it’s Gomez’s absence that now grabs the spotlight. According to reports from Liverpool Echo, the injury is considered minor, yet serious enough to sideline him for at least a couple of weeks.

With Virgil van Dijk now the only fit senior centre-back available on the tour, the Reds were forced to turn to Ryan Gravenberch to fill in alongside the Dutchman against AC Milan. This makeshift defensive setup has already raised eyebrows — and alarm bells — among supporters and club officials alike.

🧠 Sporting director Richard Hughes, who has overseen several impressive signings this summer, will now be feeling the pressure to act swiftly. Liverpool currently boast four goalkeepers and three left-backs, but only three senior centre-backs — and now one of them is injured.

The situation has reignited calls for the Reds to step up their pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, as speculation grows that a new defensive signing is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. ❗

With fans still dreaming of a big-money striker like Alexander Isak, this defensive blow is a harsh reminder: the ghosts of the 2020/21 injury crisis are still very real — and no one wants to see midfielders like Fabinho or Jordan Henderson redeployed at centre-back ever again. 😬