Liverpool: Arne Slot confirms 'big blow' with double injury update ahead of crucial Aston Villa clash | OneFootball

Gomez had only just returned from injury but has picked up a fresh hamstring problem

Arne Slot has confirmed Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez will both miss Liverpool’s trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

Gakpo is not far off from being available, having been ruled out of Sunday’s win over Wolves with a knock, but the midweek clash with Villa will come too soon.

Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday: “Both are unavailable for tomorrow. Cody is the closest to coming back but Joe will take quite some time. He is going to be out for a number of weeks because of a hamstring injury.

"It's a big blow for Joe and for us. He tries everything to be with the team. He works really hard to come back and then first game when he came back, after two or three minutes we saw him making a sprint and now he is out for weeks again.

The injury to Gakpo could be another chance for Diogo Jota to lead the line, as he did against Wolves.

That was Jota’s first start in the Premier League since October, with Liverpool continuing to take a cautious approach to his fitness after injury issues earlier in the season.

"He has a role like many others," Slot said. "He did so well before his injury and we have missed him for three or four months.

"We have missed the number nine who played the first seven or eight games in every game. Now he is back. He played 60 and we don't expect him to play 90, 90, 90 this week but we hope he is involved in three games."