Arne Slot confirmed Joe Gomez will miss the Merseyside derby against Everton after being withdrawn during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
The defender came on at the start of the second half at Anfield but left the pitch in the 67th minute citing discomfort, with Slot ruling him out for the weekend fixture when asked on Friday.
Florian Wirtz echoed the manager’s focus on domestic ambitions, insisting the squad owe it to the club and fans to secure Champions League qualification through a top-five Premier League finish following their European exit.
The £116m summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen said the focus has shifted entirely to the league campaign after Liverpool’s elimination from both the Champions League and FA Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Wirtz praised the atmosphere at Anfield for the second leg against PSG, saying the whole stadium was on fire and giving big compliments to the fans despite the team falling short due to a lack of goals.
Slot provides injury update on Gomez and Danns
Regarding Jayden Danns, Slot said the 20-year-old has returned to training with the U21s after a lengthy absence but is not yet ready for Premier League action, noting he has not even played 90 minutes for the youth side.
The manager acknowledged Danns has worked hard and been unlucky with his injury layoff but reiterated he will not be involved in the derby match.
Wirtz sets minimum target for league finish
Wirtz stated Liverpool must aim for at least fifth place in the table to guarantee Champions League football next season, describing it as the minimum requirement to satisfy the club and supporters.
He admitted the team wanted a better season but stressed there is still something to play for, including securing a top-five finish and Champions League qualification for the following campaign.
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Will Joe Gomez be available for Liverpool’s next game after the Everton derby?
Slot did not provide a timeline for Gomez’s return beyond confirming his absence for the Merseyside derby, with the defender having been withdrawn during the midweek Champions League match due to discomfort.
What did Arne Slot say about Jayden Danns’ readiness for Premier League football?
Slot said Danns needs more steps before being ready for Premier League action, noting he has not even played 90 minutes for the U21s despite returning to training with the youth side after a long injury layoff.
