‘The worst news’ – Joe Gomez forced off injured in Liverpool friendly clash as Andoni Iraola provides bleak update

ANDONI IRAOLA’S start to life as Liverpool boss was bittersweet as they beat Sunderland but lost Joe Gomez to injury. The Reds pre-season kicked off with a clash against familiar Premier League opposition in Sunderland in the USA. Liverpool got off to a winning start under Andoni Iraola but suffered a major injury setback Credit: Getty Joe Gomez went off injured after just eight minutes, with Iraola describing it as ‘the worst news’ Credit: Getty Iraola’s side won 4-2, courtesy of goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas. However, in a bitter blow Liverpool were forced to take off 29-year-old defender Gomez – who started the game in centre-back and wearing the captain’s armband – just eight minutes in. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Speaking after the game, Iraola said: “Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe. “We were happy because we were going through training without losing any players and unluckily for us we’ve lost Joe straight away.” Former Charlton star Gomez played 33 times under Arne Slot last season, but only started 16 of those games as he battled a number of small knocks including hamstring, knee, muscle and Achilles problems. Liverpool were without club captain Virgil van Dijk, who is on holiday following this participation at the World Cup with the Netherlands, and new £60million signing Jeremy Jacquet. Iraola added: “With Jeremy we decided to take it easy with him. “He’s had a lot of months without playing and he’s been training very well but we’re going to take it easy with him. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK “He will play probably in the last game of this tour and he will have time to have minutes.” Ex-Bournemouth boss Iraola was also without the services of 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni as he continues individual training following a severe ACL tear. Iraola warned earlier this week his squad was “very thin” in defence, a point which sporting director Richard Hughes might have seen hammered home as he watched the game taking place in Nashville. With Gomez going off injured, it meant 18-year-old’s Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe were left to marshal the defence, and performed admirably considering the circumstances. Tactics Exposed is Sponsored by Midnite Midnite is definitely not your grandad’s bookie. Built from the ground up in the UK for 2026 not 2006 , it’s fast, slick, with simple deposits and Rapid Withdrawals. Check out the new customer welcome offer @midnite. Always remember to gamble responsibly — 18+, T&Cs Apply, BeGambleAware.org Top football travel deals Liverpool lost Ibrahima Konate to free agency as he joined Real Madrid this summer, while experienced left-back Andy Robertson also went to Tottenham. So far Liverpool have signed Jacquet and Víctor Muñoz for a combined £95m this summer, beating Newcastle to the latter’s signature. They are looking to add more recruits to their ranks with one target being Paris Saint-Germain and France star Bradley Barcola. The French champions have set a £140m price tag on the 23-year-old, who will not be signing a new deal at the club as he enters his final two years on it – but the Reds are confident of beating Arsenal to his signature. In terms of defenders, Liverpool had been trying to sign Marcos Senesi to join Iraola following their Bournemouth departure, but the Argentine opted to join Spurs. Liverpool travel to Newcastle for their opening game, while their first clash at Anfield this season sees them take on Nottingham Forest. Premier League 2026-27 fixtures in full HERE is the full schedule for the 2026-27 Premier League fixtures... 21/08/2026 8:00pm Arsenal v Coventry City 22/08/2026 12:30pm Hull City v Manchester United 3:00pm Everton v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Sunderland 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Leeds United 5:30pm Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur 23/08/2026 2:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Aston Villa 2:00pm Manchester City v Bournemouth 4:30pm Newcastle United v Liverpool 24/08/2026 8:00pm Fulham v Chelsea 29/08/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Everton 3:00pm Aston Villa v Arsenal 3:00pm Chelsea v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Coventry City v Hull City 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Manchester City 3:00pm Leeds United v Brentford 3:00pm Liverpool v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Manchester United v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Sunderland v Fulham 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United 05/09/2026 3:00pm Arsenal v Chelsea 3:00pm Brentford v Sunderland 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United 3:00pm Everton v Manchester United 3:00pm Fulham v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Hull City v Aston Villa 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Liverpool 3:00pm Manchester City v Coventry City 3:00pm Newcastle United v Bournemouth 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur 12/09/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Brentford 3:00pm Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Chelsea v Hull City 3:00pm Coventry City v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Leeds United v Newcastle United 3:00pm Liverpool v Fulham 3:00pm Manchester United v Manchester City 3:00pm Sunderland v Arsenal 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Everton 19/09/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Liverpool 3:00pm Brentford v Chelsea 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal 3:00pm Everton v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Fulham v Manchester United 3:00pm Leeds United v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Manchester City v Sunderland 3:00pm Newcastle United v Hull City 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Coventry City 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa 10/10/2026 3:00pm Arsenal v Leeds United 3:00pm Aston Villa v Brentford 3:00pm Chelsea v Bournemouth 3:00pm Coventry City v Newcastle United 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Hull City v Everton 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Fulham 3:00pm Liverpool v Manchester City 3:00pm Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Sunderland v Brighton and Hove Albion 17/10/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Sunderland 3:00pm Brentford v Liverpool 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Everton v Chelsea 3:00pm Fulham v Hull City 3:00pm Leeds United v Manchester United 3:00pm Manchester City v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Newcastle United v Aston Villa 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Arsenal 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City 24/10/2026 3:00pm Arsenal v Everton 3:00pm Aston Villa v Manchester City 3:00pm Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Coventry City v Fulham 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Newcastle United 3:00pm Hull City v Brentford 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Liverpool v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Manchester United v Bournemouth 3:00pm Sunderland v Leeds United 31/10/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Leeds United 3:00pm Aston Villa v Fulham 3:00pm Brentford v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Chelsea v Manchester United 3:00pm Coventry City v Sunderland 3:00pm Hull City v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Liverpool v Arsenal 3:00pm Manchester City v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Newcastle United v Everton 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace 07/11/2026 3:00pm Arsenal v Hull City 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Brentford 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Liverpool 3:00pm Everton v Coventry City 3:00pm Fulham v Newcastle United 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Bournemouth 3:00pm Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Manchester United v Aston Villa 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Manchester City 3:00pm Sunderland v Chelsea 21/11/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Aston Villa v Sunderland 3:00pm Brentford v Everton 3:00pm Chelsea v Leeds United 3:00pm Coventry City v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Hull City v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Liverpool v Manchester United 3:00pm Manchester City v Fulham 3:00pm Newcastle United v Arsenal 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Ipswich Town 28/11/2026 3:00pm Arsenal v Manchester City 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Hull City 3:00pm Everton v Liverpool 3:00pm Fulham v Bournemouth 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Aston Villa 3:00pm Leeds United v Coventry City 3:00pm Manchester United v Brentford 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Chelsea 3:00pm Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur 02/12/2026 8:00pm Bournemouth v Brighton and Hove Albion 8:00pm Aston Villa v Everton 8:00pm Brentford v Arsenal 8:00pm Chelsea v Crystal Palace 8:00pm Coventry City v Ipswich Town 8:00pm Hull City v Nottingham Forest 8:00pm Liverpool v Sunderland 8:00pm Manchester City v Leeds United 8:00pm Newcastle United v Manchester United 8:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham 05/12/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Hull City 3:00pm Aston Villa v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Brentford v Manchester City 3:00pm Chelsea v Liverpool 3:00pm Everton v Fulham 3:00pm Leeds United v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Manchester United v Coventry City 3:00pm Newcastle United v Sunderland 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal 12/12/2026 3:00pm Arsenal v Bournemouth 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton 3:00pm Coventry City v Aston Villa 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Manchester United 3:00pm Fulham v Brentford 3:00pm Hull City v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Newcastle United 3:00pm Liverpool v Leeds United 3:00pm Manchester City v Chelsea 3:00pm Sunderland v Nottingham Forest 19/12/2026 3:00pm Bournemouth v Coventry City 3:00pm Arsenal v Manchester United 3:00pm Brentford v Newcastle United 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Chelsea v Aston Villa 3:00pm Leeds United v Fulham 3:00pm Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Manchester City v Hull City 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Everton 3:00pm Sunderland v Crystal Palace 26/12/2026 3:00pm Aston Villa v Leeds United 3:00pm Coventry City v Chelsea 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Arsenal 3:00pm Everton v Sunderland 3:00pm Fulham v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Hull City v Liverpool 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Brentford 3:00pm Manchester United v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Newcastle United v Manchester City 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth 30/12/2026 8:00pm Aston Villa v Liverpool 8:00pm Coventry City v Brentford 8:00pm Crystal Palace v Bournemouth 8:00pm Everton v Manchester City 8:00pm Fulham v Arsenal 8:00pm Hull City v Leeds United 8:00pm Ipswich Town v Chelsea 8:00pm Manchester United v Sunderland 8:00pm Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest 8:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton and Hove Albion 02/01/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Aston Villa 3:00pm Arsenal v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Brentford v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester United 3:00pm Chelsea v Newcastle United 3:00pm Leeds United v Everton 3:00pm Liverpool v Coventry City 3:00pm Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Fulham 3:00pm Sunderland v Hull City 06/01/2027 8:00pm Arsenal v Brentford 8:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Bournemouth 8:00pm Crystal Palace v Chelsea 8:00pm Everton v Aston Villa 8:00pm Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur 8:00pm Ipswich Town v Coventry City 8:00pm Leeds United v Manchester City 8:00pm Manchester United v Newcastle United 8:00pm Nottingham Forest v Hull City 8:00pm Sunderland v Liverpool 16/01/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Aston Villa v Manchester United 3:00pm Brentford v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Chelsea v Sunderland 3:00pm Coventry City v Everton 3:00pm Hull City v Arsenal 3:00pm Liverpool v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Manchester City v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Newcastle United v Fulham 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United 23/01/2027 3:00pm Arsenal v Newcastle United 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Everton v Brentford 3:00pm Fulham v Aston Villa 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Hull City 3:00pm Leeds United v Chelsea 3:00pm Manchester United v Liverpool 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth 3:00pm Sunderland v Coventry City 30/01/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Fulham 3:00pm Aston Villa v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Brentford v Manchester United 3:00pm Chelsea v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Coventry City v Leeds United 3:00pm Hull City v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Liverpool v Everton 3:00pm Manchester City v Arsenal 3:00pm Newcastle United v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland 06/02/2027 3:00pm Arsenal v Liverpool 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Hull City 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Coventry City 3:00pm Everton v Newcastle United 3:00pm Fulham v Manchester City 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Leeds United v Bournemouth 3:00pm Manchester United v Chelsea 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Brentford 3:00pm Sunderland v Aston Villa 10/02/2027 8:00pm Aston Villa v Bournemouth 8:00pm Coventry City v Liverpool 8:00pm Crystal Palace v Brentford 8:00pm Everton v Leeds United 8:00pm Fulham v Nottingham Forest 8:00pm Hull City v Sunderland 8:00pm Ipswich Town v Arsenal 8:00pm Manchester United v Brighton and Hove Albion 8:00pm Newcastle United v Chelsea 8:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City 20/02/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Arsenal v Fulham 3:00pm Brentford v Coventry City 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Chelsea v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Leeds United v Aston Villa 3:00pm Liverpool v Hull City 3:00pm Manchester City v Newcastle United 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Manchester United 3:00pm Sunderland v Everton 27/02/2027 3:00pm Aston Villa v Chelsea 3:00pm Coventry City v Bournemouth 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Sunderland 3:00pm Everton v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Fulham v Leeds United 3:00pm Hull City v Manchester City 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Manchester United v Arsenal 3:00pm Newcastle United v Brentford 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool 03/03/2027 8:00pm Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 8:00pm Arsenal v Crystal Palace 8:00pm Brentford v Ipswich Town 8:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Fulham 8:00pm Chelsea v Coventry City 8:00pm Leeds United v Hull City 8:00pm Liverpool v Aston Villa 8:00pm Manchester City v Everton 8:00pm Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United 8:00pm Sunderland v Manchester United 13/03/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Newcastle United 3:00pm Aston Villa v Hull City 3:00pm Chelsea v Arsenal 3:00pm Coventry City v Manchester City 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Fulham 3:00pm Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Liverpool v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Manchester United v Everton 3:00pm Sunderland v Brentford 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest 20/03/2027 3:00pm Arsenal v Sunderland 3:00pm Brentford v Bournemouth 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Coventry City 3:00pm Everton v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Fulham v Liverpool 3:00pm Hull City v Chelsea 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Manchester City v Manchester United 3:00pm Newcastle United v Leeds United 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa 10/04/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Manchester City 3:00pm Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Chelsea v Fulham 3:00pm Coventry City v Arsenal 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Everton 3:00pm Leeds United v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Liverpool v Newcastle United 3:00pm Manchester United v Hull City 3:00pm Sunderland v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford 17/04/2027 3:00pm Arsenal v Aston Villa 3:00pm Brentford v Leeds United 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Chelsea 3:00pm Everton v Bournemouth 3:00pm Fulham v Sunderland 3:00pm Hull City v Coventry City 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Manchester United 3:00pm Manchester City v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Liverpool 24/04/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Arsenal 3:00pm Aston Villa v Coventry City 3:00pm Brentford v Fulham 3:00pm Chelsea v Manchester City 3:00pm Everton v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Leeds United v Liverpool 3:00pm Manchester United v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Newcastle United v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Sunderland 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City 01/05/2027 3:00pm Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Coventry City v Manchester United 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Aston Villa 3:00pm Fulham v Everton 3:00pm Hull City v Bournemouth 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Leeds United 3:00pm Liverpool v Chelsea 3:00pm Manchester City v Brentford 3:00pm Sunderland v Newcastle United 08/05/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Manchester United 3:00pm Brentford v Aston Villa 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Sunderland 3:00pm Everton v Hull City 3:00pm Fulham v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Leeds United v Arsenal 3:00pm Manchester City v Liverpool 3:00pm Newcastle United v Coventry City 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea 15/05/2027 3:00pm Arsenal v Nottingham Forest 3:00pm Aston Villa v Newcastle United 3:00pm Chelsea v Everton 3:00pm Coventry City v Tottenham Hotspur 3:00pm Crystal Palace v Brighton and Hove Albion 3:00pm Hull City v Fulham 3:00pm Ipswich Town v Manchester City 3:00pm Liverpool v Brentford 3:00pm Manchester United v Leeds United 3:00pm Sunderland v Bournemouth 23/05/2027 3:00pm Bournemouth v Chelsea 3:00pm Brentford v Hull City 3:00pm Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool 3:00pm Everton v Arsenal 3:00pm Fulham v Coventry City 3:00pm Leeds United v Sunderland 3:00pm Manchester City v Aston Villa 3:00pm Newcastle United v Crystal Palace 3:00pm Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town 3:00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United 30/05/2027 4:00pm Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion 4:00pm Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur 4:00pm Chelsea v Brentford 4:00pm Coventry City v Nottingham Forest 4:00pm Crystal Palace v Leeds United 4:00pm Hull City v Newcastle United 4:00pm Ipswich Town v Everton 4:00pm Liverpool v Bournemouth 4:00pm Manchester United v Fulham 4:00pm Sunderland v 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