Arne Slot Provides Update on Joe Gomez’s Injury Ahead of Nottingham Forest Clash

• Joe Gomez remains sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered in December.
• Liverpool manager confirms the defender is still “quite far” from returning.
• Darwin Núñez is also unavailable due to suspension.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Joe Gomez is still far from making a comeback after sustaining a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s emphatic 5-0 victory over West Ham United on December 29.

Initially expected to miss only “a few weeks,” Gomez’s recovery has taken longer than anticipated, ruling him out of Tuesday’s crucial Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest.

“Quite far,” Slot admitted when asked about Gomez’s potential return. “He is definitely not with the team yet, and Darwin [Núñez] is suspended. They are the ones we’ll miss tomorrow.”

Slot Reflects on Forest’s Threat

Nottingham Forest, under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo, remain the only team to have defeated Liverpool in the Premier League this season. Reflecting on the earlier loss, Slot acknowledged the quality and resilience of Forest.

“They showed in retrospect what a good team they are,” Slot stated. “In general, when Liverpool loses a home game… in that moment Virgil [van Dijk] had played 100 home games and only lost once. For me, losing on that day was hard to take.”

He continued:

“Looking back and where they are in the league, maybe it’s not as big of a shock. They had a good game plan and brought the winger in who did so well.

Slot also emphasized that Forest’s performances and results have earned them a spot among the Premier League’s elite this season.

“I always said you can judge the table best halfway through the season, and that moment is here now. If Forest is up there with us, Arsenal, Chelsea, [Manchester] City, and the others, then they definitely are a team in competition with us.

“They deserve to be treated like this if you look at the way they play and their performances. It is going to be a very difficult challenge tomorrow to get a result.”

What’s Next?

With Gomez and Núñez unavailable, Liverpool face a tough test against an in-form Nottingham Forest side. The Reds will need to overcome their earlier defeat and maintain their momentum as the Premier League title race heats up.