Liverpool's defensive crisis deepens as Gomez injures knee with England

Liverpool center-back Joe Gomez suffered a non-contact knee injury in England training Wednesday, Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate confirmed.

"I can't tell you how serious it is because he's yet to have scans. What's upsetting is he was in a fair bit of pain and there was nobody around him when the injury happened," Southgate told reporters, courtesy of ESPN UK's James Olley.

Gomez is now certain to miss England's upcoming three international matches. He'll return to Liverpool to assess the severity of the injury.

The Premier League holders are already without Gomez's usual central defensive partner, Virgil van Dijk, who is expected to miss the entire season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Fabinho, who deputized at center-back for Van Dijk, is recovering from a hamstring worry, and Joel Matip just returned to full fitness. Youngsters Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams paired with Gomez in recent weeks prior to Matip's return.

Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is also set for a spell on the treatment table after injuring his calf in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Sunday, and star summer signing Thiago missed the last six matches in all competitions with a knee concern.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was irate when recently asked about the Premier League's decision to scrap the five substitutes rule for the 2020-21 campaign despite the congested fixtures list.

"It's the only big league with only three subs," Klopp said. "Big surprise. It's a lack of leadership. If 14 teams do not agree that five subs should happen then at least let the top six sub five times when we play each other."

The provision was introduced when the top flight of English football resumed play following the work stoppage due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Europe's other top divisions and the Champions League still employ the five substitutes rule.