"Would miss the Champions League final": £340,000/month Liverpool star could miss Real Madrid clash in Paris

EDIT: Paul Joyce has reported that Gomez has undergone a scan and is not expected to miss the final if his recovery goes to plan.

Initial report: Joe Gomez could miss the Champions League final if he misses three weeks due to the left ankle injury he sustained against Southampton.

Liverpool fans feared the absolute worst when Joe Gomez was televised writhing in agony on the St. Mary's pitch after his foot was trapped under a Southampton player.

Klopp was optimistic after full-time, telling his post-match press conference: “I hope we are lucky. Joe himself has pain but not too much.

“He got, one time, a real shock to the system, but he is sitting in the dressing room and when I spoke to him he was in a good mood. I think maybe we were probably lucky but we have to figure that out.”

James Pearce reported after full-time that the defender was seen leaving the stadium on crutches with his left foot in a protective boot.

According to Dr. Raj Brar of 3cbPerformance, the injury Gomez sustained appears to have a three-week (plus) recovery time which would rule him out of the Champions League final.

Liverpool are scheduled to play Real Madrid in Paris and while Gomez is not expected to start if fit, his absence is a blow as he provides Jurgen Klopp with a valuable option from the bench.

We've seen numerous times this season that Klopp likes to bring the Englishman on for Trent Alexander-Arnold when it's apparent that more pace and strength are needed at fullback.

It means Liverpool have three centre-backs on the pitch in Virgil van Dijk and Matip/Konate.

They provide Liverpool with extra height at set-pieces while also providing a more conservative but defensively sound back four with Andy Robertson completing the set at left-back.

Klopp told his press conference he is desperate for some luck and I'm sure Gomez, who has had his fair share of injuries in recent seasons, will be even more desperate to catch a break.

If he's ruled out for an extended period, it will no doubt result in calls for him to be sold but it's not the time to cast him aside but rather to support him in what may be a frustrating period on the sidelines.