Liverpool defender Joe Gomez will miss the start of the new season due to injury.
Gomez, 29, was forced off within 10 minutes of Liverpool’s first friendly of pre-season against Sunderland after suffering a muscle issue.
Liverpool went on to win that game in Nashville 4-2 without their longest serving player, but manager Andoni Iraola nevertheless admitted that Gomez’s setback was “probably the worst news” he could have been dealt on his managerial bow for the Reds.
Iraola has now confirmed Gomez will face a spell on the sidelines and while he does not yet know for how long, he says it will be “impossible” for the Englishman to make a return before Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Newcastle on 23 August.
Speaking at a press conference in Chicago on Thursday morning, he said: “Joe has a muscle injury. I think it was quite clear since he complained straight away so it will depend how he evolves, but he will be some weeks off.
“It’s a muscle injury and (with) muscle injuries it is difficult to say one day, but normally I always put myself as one month.
“If it goes very good the injury is a little bit less, if (not) it goes a little more. It’s not massive, it’s a normal muscle injury, but I think it’s going to be impossible to have him for the start of the season because we are not so far away. It shouldn’t be a lot more.”
Gomez has struggled with injuries throughout his time at Anfield, which have forced him to miss 34 games across the past two seasons.
Liverpool’s defensive options are thin, with captain Virgil van Dijk yet to return following the World Cup.
New signing Jeremy Jacquet is still building up his fitness while Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from his ACL injury suffered early last season.
Liverpool’s final game of their USA pre-season tour takes place on Sunday as they face Leeds United at Soldier Field.