Joe Gomez is eager to remain injury-free and reap the benefits of a full pre-season programme this summer as he aims to challenge for a regular place in Liverpool's line-up in 2017-18.

The defender made just three appearances for the Reds last term having not returned to full training until October following a year out of action with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Gomez is hoping for better luck this time around so he can stake his claim for more minutes for Jürgen Klopp’s side.

“Ideally I’d hope to get some more minutes and so on [next season], but at the moment I’ve just got to focus on going into pre-season and getting the best start I can,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“We’ve got the tour and things, so I’ve got to aim to get off to a good start and then get some minutes as the season progresses.

“It was kind of disappointing for me last pre-season because I’d had the aim to make it on time for it because I know how important it is to get a good start in it. It’ll be nice to have a fresh start this pre-season and put the past behind me.”

Gomez was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com at a charity event staged by teammate Kevin Stewart to raise money for Cerebral Palsy Sport.