Jürgen Klopp denies that Joe Gomez suffered a setback in his rehabilitation during the training camp in Austria. The center defender, like Virgil van Dijk, has been out of circulation for some time with a knee injury, but is recovering well, according to the Liverpool manager. Gomez has now successfully attended his first training sessions. Van Dijk’s recovery is also going according to plan, Klopp added on Liverpool’s official website.
Gomez has been sidelined since November after knee surgery, while Van Dijk last played in October. According to Klopp, the focus at Van Dijk at the moment is on building the focus. “That’s it, these guys are no longer injured. They’re just not 100 percent fit yet,” Klopp tries to quell all the rumors. “There are usually setbacks, but until now Joe and Virgil have not experienced these setbacks. What they were supposed to do, they did. They have not had a knee-jerk reaction. Obviously the internet has too much time.”
Klopp is responding to the rumors that circulated this week about a possible setback in the recovery at Gomez. The return of Gomez and especially Van Dijk would be a huge boost for Klopp, who had to change frequently at the heart of defense last season and regularly field inexperienced Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams. Liverpool’s infirmary seems to be emptying anyway, as Joël Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also on their way back. Moreover, with the arrival of Ibrahima Konate, Klopp has another important candidate for the center.
Liverpool will start preparing for the new season on Tuesday with two thirty-minute matches against Wacker Innsbruck and VfB Stuttgart. Furthermore, Klopp’s team will compete against 1. FSV Mainz 05 (July 23) and Hertha BSC (July 29) in preparation. Liverpool will visit newly promoted Norwich City during the first day of play in the Premier League. Two matchdays later, the first topper of the season is on the program, when Chelsea comes to Anfield.
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