Cody Gakpo joins list of Liverpool absentees for Aston Villa clash

Arne Slot has confirmed that in-form winger Cody Gakpo has been ruled out of Liverpool's Premier League match against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

Gakpo has rediscovered his form since joining forces with his fellow Dutchman Slot, after struggling to secure a regular starting spot last season. He has become Liverpool's primary option on the left wing, forcing Luis Diaz into a less familiar central role to accommodate both players.

However, Gakpo missed Sunday's win over Wolves due to a knock and is not yet fit to return, with Slot declaring him "unavailable" for the Villa match when speaking to the media.

Diaz is expected to play on the left against Villa, with either Diogo Jota or Darwin Nunez set to lead the attack. Curtis Jones will also return from suspension after missing the Wolves game due to a red card handed to him after the final whistle in the heated Merseyside derby.

The good news for Gakpo, however, is that "Cody is close to being back," hinting that he could be in contention to feature when Liverpool face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on 23 February.

On a more concerning note, versatile defender Joe Gomez is set for an extended period on the sidelines and may even need surgery on his hamstring injury.

Gomez's time at Liverpool has been marred by injuries, although he managed to stay fit last season, making 51 appearances across all competitions. Unfortunately, the England international has been struggling with his hamstring throughout the year and lasted just 11 minutes in his attempted comeback during the FA Cup match against Plymouth Argyle earlier this month. He is not expected to return anytime soon.

"He will miss large parts of the end of the season but we expect him to be back. He might need surgery but that's something we still have to assess," Slot explained.

"It was a big blow for us and for him. He tried to do everything to be with the team and worked hard, then first game back he makes a sprint and now he's out for a while. It's very hard for a player at any point of the season, especially now."

READ MORE: Arne Slot would be surprised if 'quality' Marcus Rashford fails to thrive at Aston Villa