Joe Gomez Successfully Undergoes Tendon Surgery on Left Knee

Joe Gomez has successfully undergone surgery on the patellar tendon in his left knee. The damage was localized, not affecting other structures. And while a recovery timeline isn’t set, it’s not impossible Gomez could still have a part to play this season.

It is, perhaps, the best news possible under the circumstances as the alternatives seemed to be an anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus injury, both which would have had longer recovery times and potentially worse career implications for the player.

Another piece of positive news in the circumstances that’s worth drawing attention to is that the injury was to Gomez’ left knee rather than the right—the side on which the 23-year-old suffered an ACL injury in 2015 that sidelined him for eight months.

However, while the news may be somewhat positive for the club and Gomez from a longer term perspective, it remains a heavy blow for a player who has dealt with two major injuries already in his young career along with a smattering of minor issues.

It also leaves the club with just one natural senior centre half for the foreseeable future in Joël Matip—a player with an even more troubled injury history than Gomez—along with a converted midfielder in Fabinho who was meant to be an emergency option.

In the past, manager Jürgen Klopp has been loath to make short-term signings in January to fill positions of need, but given the long-term injuries both Gomez and Virgil van Dijk as well as the busy fixture list, a new centre half signing looks to be needed.