Joe Gomez’s future at Liverpool is increasingly uncertain after he was left out of their 20-man squad for their opening Premier League game at Ipswich Town.
The versatile England international is fully fit but did not travel to Portman Road after being overlooked by new head coach Arne Slot.
Jarell Quansah was selected to partner captain Virgil van Dijk at centre-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson at full-back.
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With centre-back Ibrahima Konate, right-back Conor Bradley and left-back Kostas Tsimikas all named among the substitutes, Gomez finds himself out of favour at the start of the Slot era.
The Athletic reported last month that the 27-year-old, who is the club’s longest serving player, was considering his options after coming close to leaving Liverpool for Newcastle United in late June.
A £45million fee was agreed for Gomez with winger Anthony Gordon heading in the opposite direction for £75million, but Newcastle pulled the plug on those deals when they managed to raise funds by selling Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to satisfy the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Newcastle have since targeted Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi as an alternative defensive target but have so far failed to agree a fee for the England international, with a fourth bid rejected.
Gomez has made 224 appearances for Liverpool since signing from Charlton Athletic for £6m in the summer of 2015.
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Joe Gomez’s future at Liverpool remains in the balance after Newcastle approach
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