Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has been dealt another injury blow as he lasted just eight minutes of the FA Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle. Inside the opening exchanges at Home Park, he limped off and had to pass on the captain's armband to Diogo Jota.

Young right-back Isaac Mabaya, who has had his own fair share of injuries in the last 12 months or so, came on to replace Gomez. It was a disappointing afternoon for the 27-year-old with the Reds lacking much in the way of experience on the bench Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate did not travel with the Merseyside derby coming up this midweek.

James McConnell moved into midfield. Wataru Endo, who turns 32 today, dropped back into center-back to play alongside Jarell Quansah, with Kostas Tsimikas to his left.

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Gomez has not long come back from a muscle injury that he sustained against West Ham United at the back end of 2024. He has largely avoided being sidelined this season but now faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of his latest setback.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is missing at the moment and is likely to sit out the game with Everton on Wednesday. Conor Bradley, who was not involved here, is his deputy.

"It's worrying when a player just sits down," former Reds youth player Craig Hignett said on commentary for BBC Radio Merseyside. "It doesn't look good for Joe Gomez. He is absolutely devastated.

"One thing you have seen with Liverpool players is that they are so unfazed. Isaac Mabaya will be nice and confident and I believe he will do his job well here."