Liverpool have announced Joe Gomez has suffered a setback in his recovery from a leg fracture and will now undergo surgery.
Gomez has not featured for Liverpool since sustaining the injury in Liverpool’s 3-1 win away to Burnley on December 5.
The England international was initially projected to have returned to first-team action by now but the 21-year-old has failed to recover properly.
Liverpool have now decided to put Gomez under the knife but remain hopeful the talented defender will return to full fitness before the end of the season.
“It’s a blow for the boy and for us – because prior to the injury he was in such fantastic shape,” Klopp told the club’s official website.
“But he is too valuable to take any risk with, both for our present and future, so we get this procedure done and he comes back when he’s ready.
“His attitude during this rehab has been outstanding but it just hasn’t healed as we’d have liked so we will make this intervention and then he will come back.”
This is the second serious injury Gomez has endured during his short Liverpool career and his absence is a blow to the club’s pursuit in the league and in Europe.
Gomez had formed a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk prior to his injury and now Klopp will have to find a long-term alternative.
With Dejan Lovren expected to miss out against West Ham on Monday, Joel Matip will have the chance to forge a partnership with Van Dijk ahead of their Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich next week.
Liverpool have not lost a Premier League match Gomez has started this season and concede fewer goals per game (0.42) when he starts compared to when he doesn’t (0.75).
