Joe Gomez Set to Resume Liverpool Training Next Week

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is set to resume full team training next week, head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed, edging closer to a first appearance of the season after picking up a muscle injury in pre-season.

"The closest one is Joe. Joe will probably start training with us next week and it has gone normally, the recovery, from a muscle injury, more or less we were expecting the time on this. I hope we can have him before the break," Iraola said in his pre-Ipswich press conference. Gomez was injured just minutes into Liverpool's first pre-season friendly and has missed the club's opening matches of the campaign, though he remains likely to sit out the Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid.

Iraola also provided updates on two other long-term absentees, with Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa both expected to resume full training during the upcoming international break. No firm timeline was given for Conor Bradley or Hugo Ekitike, who remain further away from returning.

Gomez's imminent return offers Liverpool much-needed defensive reinforcement after successive 2-2 draws to open the Premier League season, with the club still working through a thin central-defensive options list following a summer window that added only Ronald Araujo on loan alongside Jeremy Jacquet.