Liverpool: Gomez injury another cruel blow for depleted Reds
The Premier League champions were already short at the back and central defender Joe Gomez may now be facing a long spell out of action.
Joe Gomez had to withdraw from the England squad on Wednesday, leaving Liverpool hoping they haven't lost another defender to a lengthy injury absence.
Gomez reported to have suffered injury on England duty
Gomez suffered a knee injury during an England training session ahead of the friendly against Republic of Ireland on Thursday, with Liverpool confirming that the defender will undergo tests to ascertain the exact extent of the issue.
Premier League champions Liverpool are already facing the prospect of being without Virgil van Dijk for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury the centre-back sustained in the derby against Everton last month.
Full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be out for around for around a month due to a calf problem he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.
The loss of Gomez would leave Jürgen Klopp seriously depleted at the back and hoping Fabinho, who had filled in at centre-back, will soon be able to return from a hamstring injury.
Here we use Opta data from Liverpool's top-flight matches since Van Dijk's debut in January 2018 to look at the potential impact being without Gomez and the Netherlands international could have on the Reds.
More points, defence no tighter
In the Premier League games Gomez has featured in since Van Dijk's bow, the Merseyside giants have won 43 out of 56 and lost just four.
Klopp's men have conceded an average of 0.8 goals in each game both with and without Gomez during that time.
With Gomez involved, the Reds have a favourable win percentage of 76.6 compared to 74.4 when he has played no part. They have averaged 2.5 points per game when the former Charlton man has played and 2.4 when he has not.
Gomez and VVD a profitable pairing
From the 52 matches Gomez and Van Dijk have played in together, Liverpool's win percentage is 76.9 compared to 74.5 from the 47 in which one or both has not been present.
The Reds have averaged an impressive 2.5 points per game with the duo featuring, that number dropping to 2.4 without at least one of them.
There has been no difference in the number of goals conceded, though, with just 0.8 shipped in each game when both, one, or neither have been involved.