Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is hopeful that Joe Gomez can play a part in the final game of the season this weekend after he returned from the injury he sustained against Plymouth Argyle in February.
Gomez has missed a chunk of the campaign again with the center-back picking up a couple of issues. But Liverpool welcomed him back into the traveling party for Monday’s trip to Brighton and he could feature against Crystal Palace.
“Last weekend he was there with the team, but he wasn’t able to play,” Slot said in today’s press conference. “There was a spot open so I could show my gratitude towards him for what he has done on and off the pitch.
“These players are all professionals but they are also human beings. Joe is one of the nicest human beings you can meet, and he is inspiring his teammates even when he is not playing. I am hoping he can get some minutes on Sunday, as long as he ticks the boxes needed.”
Elsewhere, Liverpool largely has a clean bill of health. Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah have all been handed chances to play in recent weeks but Slot could go strong to end the season on a high.
Alexis Mac Allister is set to miss out as he is given an extended rest but the Argentine should benefit when he comes back for pre-season. And there are no other injury concerns.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold, Slot said, could feature. That decision, after he was booed by the home crowd on his last appearance, is yet to be taken with Conor Bradley in line to start.
“I haven’t decided on [Alexander-Arnold] yet,” Slot said. “But I think this should be a day that everybody is going to enjoy. It’s been 35 years, everybody is waiting for this moment — [not] everybody but the Liverpool fans are waiting for this moment — and I think we’ve set the example against Tottenham.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been part of seeing a celebration done in a nicer way than that day. And one of the two things that made me emotional was how we arrived at the stadium when the fans were singing for us.
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“The second one is that I’ve met in the last few weeks multiple people telling me, ‘I’m going to Anfield now for all my life, but I’ve never felt a day what was more special than that one, Tottenham at home.’
“So, I am hoping that we can add a moment like this to it. And I think everybody that’s in the stadium deserves to be there — the fans, the staff, but also the players and one of my players is Trent.
“He definitely deserves to be there as well because he’s been part of an incredible, successful season and incredible, successful years at this club. I can only hope that we do it one more time over what we did against Tottenham and I have a lot of trust in our fans to do the same again.”
Liverpool.com says: Gomez could have left last summer but the Reds were far from pushing him out of the door. He is a hugely valued member of the squad; the longest-serving senior player at the club.
