Joe Gomez to miss start of Liverpool's season

Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez for the start of the new Premier League season after the central defender suffered a muscle injury on the club's preseason tour of the United States. The club's press service confirmed the injury. Gomez was substituted in the eighth minute of the match against Sunderland. Head coach Andoni Iraola said: "Joe has a muscle injury. It depends on how his recovery goes, but he'll be out for a few weeks. With muscle injuries, it's hard to give an exact timeframe. I usually think in terms of about a month. If everything goes very well, it could take a little less; if not, a little more. It's not a serious one, just a normal muscle injury, but I don't think he will recover in time for the start of the season because there is very little time left. I don't expect his absence to last much longer." Liverpool opens its Premier League campaign against Newcastle on August 23. Earlier reports said Liverpool were targeting Ezri Konsa, with Zabarnyi also on the Merseysiders' shortlist.