Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted it is a big blow to be without Joe Gomez for another few months.

The young central defender has to go through leg surgery, which will delay his recovery from a broken leg.

Gomez has been out since early December, but the Liverpool medical staff have only just decided that surgery is the best course of treatment.

While the Reds are top of the league, losing Gomez hurts their depth heading into the business end of the season.

"It's a blow for the boy and for us - because prior to the injury he was in such fantastic shape," Klopp said in a statement.

"But he is too valuable to take any risk with, both for our present and future, so we get this procedure done and he comes back when he's ready.

"His attitude during this rehab has been outstanding but it just hasn't healed as we'd have liked so we will make this intervention and then he will come back."