Joe Gomez would be ready to play in Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Jurgen Klopp reported that Joe Gomez is ready to play for Liverpool against Crystal Palace next Monday, in a match corresponding to matchday 2 of the Premier League.

"In terms of right now, Joe is in phenomenal shape," the Liverpool manager said earlier in the summer. “We had a few weeks off and when I got back to AXA I saw it and my first thought was 'Wow!' . Physically, he is in a very good moment and now he just needs a good preseason and the rhythm that this entails”.

Gomez signed a new long-term deal, a surprising move for some given his limited playing time last season and intense competition for spots at center back with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate.

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“Fundamentally, the opportunity that I have here and the platform and opportunity to be at this club is something that is hard to walk away from,” the 25-year-old said. "Essentially, it was me accepting the fact that I have to take on the challenge."

Although Matip regained the place alongside Van Dijk, where he had been for much of last season, with Konate he joined Gomez on the bench for the Community Shield win against Manchester City. Things changed in less than 24 hours, Konate limping out of the friendly against Strasbourg with a knee injury that will keep the French international sidelined for a long period of time. Then on Friday came the news that Matip had missed a training session as a precaution after a groin strain has jeopardized his participation in Monday's Premier League visit to Crystal Palace.

Now, due to injuries, Gomez is in line for a first Premier League start at centre-back. While Van Dijk, who returned at the same time last summer after his own serious knee problem, hit the ground running and missed just four Premier League games all season, Gomez made just four starts in the top category, all as right back. Indeed, the last time Gomez and Van Dijk started together at centre-back, Liverpool were beaten 7-2 at Aston Villa on one of the rare afternoons that only pandemic football can bring. It was the Van Dijk-Gómez partnership that played together for most of the 2019/2020 title-winning season.