England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed he has held talks with Jurgen Klopp about Joe Gomez’s injury and their concerns over player welfare.
Gomez has undergone surgery to correct the knee injury that he suffered in England training on Wednesday and the Liverpool defender is set for a long spell out.
Like many managers, Klopp and Southgate are concerned at the volume of matches that the players have been asked to play this season and fear it will lead to many more injuries.
Speaking ahead of England’s friendly against Ireland at Wembley on Thursday, Southgate revealed he spoke to Liverpool manager Klopp on Wednesday night.
“I had a long chat with Jurgen,” said the England boss. “We are all worried about player welfare and to lose a player like we did, for us and for Liverpool, but most importantly for the boy, was really tragic.
“Unfortunately the injury was so unique in how it happened that we know that it was just a consequence of the number of games really. Wherever he had been there is a chance that would have happened. We are on the same page. We think the welfare of the players is critical.
“There needs to be a look at the calendar. We have got to try and lessen the load as much as we can for the players.”
