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Joe Gomez to Miss Audi Cup Games

The talented young defender will miss this week's big pre-season friendliest as a precautionary measure.

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Tranmere Rovers v Liverpool - Pre Season Friendly Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

After news that Nathaniel Clyne is set to miss the start of the season with hamstring and complaints, Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez for the midweek Audi Cup games. The slight knee injury Gomez suffered against Hertha Berlin needs to be considered, but it appears that this is a natural course of rehabilitation.

"He will be missing from the next few games," manager Jürgen Klopp told the official site. "It is nothing too serious, a little issue with his knee picked up in the [Hertha] game.

"But we will take no risk with him."

This is the right move, but Liverpool no longer have much in the way of depth at right back with only Trent Alexander-Arnold currently fit. James milner could move to right back with Andrew Robertson stepping up at left back, but the importance of Clyne being fit should not be overlooked.

Gomez is still finding his feet as a youngster and a player returning from injury. While this is a precaution, it must be remembered that Liverpool should do everything to add a couple of players in key positions to avoid last season's January and February slump. Finishing ahead of Arsenal by a single point shouldn't have been so.

Turning to Dejan Lovren in the event of an injury to Joël Matip or Virgil van Dijk, for example, would be a comforting reality than current circumstances where Ragnar Klavan is first reserve for the centre back positions. Strength at the heart of defence would be greatly reassuring considering that there are legitimate doubts surrounding depth, quality, and experience in the full back positions.

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