Liverpool’s Joe Gomez has quickly become one of the Reds’ most important players. Gomez’s return to form could not have come at a better time, with all three of Jurgen Klopp’s senior fullback options unavailable for an extended period through injury.
Most commonly used as a right-sided central defender and rotational right-fullback, the long-term injuries to Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas have forced Klopp to deploy Gomez as a left-fullback. This was the position Gomez was signed to fill nine seasons ago in 2015, when he made a five-million-euro move from Chartlon Athletic as a teenager.
Joe Gomez should be Englandโs starting CB to be honest. Levels above a lot of defenders that Southgate calls up regularly.
โ LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) January 8, 2024
Injuries have plagued the now-26-year-old, who made over 20 Premier League appearances in just three of his nine seasons with the Reds. In two of his last three seasons, he has failed to make more than 10 in the competition.
Joe Gomez was crucial to Liverpool’s 2019/20 Premier League campaign, which saw Jurgen Klopp’s team become the fastest Premier League champions in history while notching up one of the best defensive records in the Premier League eraย alongside Virgil Van Dijk , conceding just 22 goals in 2018/19.
This season, Gomez has returned to his best, showing his quality in every position across the backline. His performances against one of the league’s most challenging forwards, Bukayo Saka, were a fine example of his return to form.
Didn’t see much of Arsenal’s ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ did we!? ๐
(@FotMob)
Joe Gomez stops Bukayo Saka in his tracks โ 4 dribbles attempted, 0 successful
๐ https://t.co/8uDYpj6qBuhttps://t.co/8uDYpj6qBu
โ This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) January 8, 2024
In less than 12 months, Joe Gomez has shifted from the forgotten first-team star to a guaranteed starter that will see number one left-back Andy Robertson’s place in doubt after he returns from injury.