Joe Gomez Successfully Undergoes Tendon Surgery on Left Knee

In the circumstances, this is about as as good as the news
gets.

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.