The Worst News. Liverpool’s first win under Andoni Iraola was overshadowed within eight minutes after Joe Gomez was forced off injured. The Reds may have started the Iraola era with a victory, but the manager admitted the defender’s injury was the biggest concern of the night. With Liverpool already short at the back, his honest post-match update has left fans fearing another major setback before the new season has even begun.

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‘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 FC v Sunderland AFC - Pre-Season Friendly
Liverpool got off to a winning start under Andoni Iraola but suffered a major injury setbackCredit: Getty
Liverpool v Sunderland - Pre Season Fieindly
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.

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.

“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.

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.