Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool farewell photo at the AXA Training Centre last week highlighted a few emotional moments, but one senior name was noticeably absent as the club bid goodbye to the Uruguayan striker who has joined Al Hilal for about £46.3 million, bringing his three-year Anfield chapter to a close.
Nunez leaves Liverpool after contributing 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 appearances, a tally that helped the club secure the Premier League title last season. His departure comes during a summer of change for the Reds, with several first-team players moving on and a wave of new arrivals through the doors. Among the departures cited were Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Luis Diaz and Caoimhin Kelleher, while the club have reportedly brought in Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Armin Pecsi, Freddie Woodman and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
In the farewell post-match moments, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and a host of backroom staff were visible in the group picture. However, Joe Gomez was not part of the shot. The defender had only just returned to training after an Achilles injury, having missed several pre-season fixtures including friendlies against AC Milan, Yokohama F. Marinos and Athletic Club, as well as last Sunday’s Community Shield against Crystal Palace.
Gomez’s absence from the photo is believed to be down to ongoing fitness and recovery work rather than a sign of a departure. Liverpool’s manager, Slot, addressed Gomez’s situation in a pre-season press conference, saying: “With Joe, I have to make a decision on that. He missed a lot of pre-season and only trained twice. There is a possibility that he might be on the bench, but I have to look at the numbers and who we’re gonna take.”
With the new campaign on the brink of kickoff, Liverpool’s first Premier League test is a Friday night trip to Bournemouth. Salah’s tribute to Nunez and the club’s other players’ messages reflected a sense of warmth and forward-looking energy as Liverpool regroup for the new season.
What it means for Liverpool
– The squad is undergoing a period of transition, balancing the exit of a proven Lion in Nunez with the integration of new signings who are expected to add pace, creativity and depth.
– Gomez’s fitness will be watched closely ahead of the opener, with the manager weighing options for the starting XI and the bench.
– The club appears to be targeting a mix of experienced and young talent to maintain momentum after last season’s title win and to push for continued success on multiple fronts.
Summary: Liverpool bid farewell to Darwin Nunez as he moves to Al Hilal, while the group photo from his send-off marked a moment of continuity and change within the squad, with Gomez’s fitness update and a slate of new signings shaping the club’s early-season outlook. The upcoming match against Bournemouth will be a telling start to how quickly Liverpool can gel under the current squad dynamics.
Overall, the tone remains hopeful as Liverpool navigate a busy transfer window and aim to build on last season’s success.