Liverpool in Turmoil: Joe Gomez Edging Towards Exit as Defensive Crisis Deepens
Liverpool, September 28, 2025 – Anfield woke up to fresh shockwaves today, with reports suggesting Joe Gomez is no longer in Arne Slot’s long-term plans and could soon leave the club he has served since 2015. AC Milan remain keen on the 28-year-old defender, whose frustration at being a perennial backup is growing.
The timing could hardly be worse. Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury has left Liverpool short at the back, with only Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Gomez available as natural centre-backs. A failed summer move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has left the Reds exposed, and now Slot is even considering the emergency option of using midfielder Wataru Endo in central defence.
Gomez’s situation is particularly painful for fans. A key figure in the 2019-20 Premier League title-winning season and Champions League triumph, he has endured injuries, competition, and constant rotation. Once seen as Van Dijk’s long-term partner, he is now a utility man, often filling in across the backline but rarely first choice.
Milan tried to sign him in the summer, only for Liverpool to block the move due to lack of cover. But with Slot focused on building around Konaté, Van Dijk, and a younger recruit in the future, Gomez’s role looks increasingly limited. At 28, he faces a career-defining choice: remain in limbo at Anfield or start afresh in Italy, where his pace and versatility are valued.
The Endo twist has left supporters stunned. The 31-year-old has never played centre-back at professional level, but desperation may force Slot’s hand. It’s a gamble that underlines Liverpool’s lack of defensive depth and poor planning after the Guehi deal collapsed.
For Liverpool, the stakes are enormous. Lose Gomez now and risk collapse if more injuries strike, or keep him and delay an inevitable rebuild. For Gomez, the decision could define his legacy: loyal servant who never secured a starting spot, or a late bloomer who revived his career abroad.
Either way, one truth stands out: Liverpool’s defence is hanging by a thread, and the next move could shape not only Gomez’s future, but the club’s entire season.
