Sport
Joe Gomez could yet become a key player for Liverpool
Joe Gomez had gone 468 days without a start in a Premier League match when he lined up in the Liverpool XI to face Norwich City on Saturday. Once seen as the Anfield club’s next big thing, at least in a defensive sense, the 24-year-old has become something of a forgotten figure over the last 18 months.
Of course, Gomez has struggled for fitness in this time suffering a serious of injury setbacks. However, the defender has been fit for much of the 2021/22 season so far. With Joel Matip playing so well and Ibrahima Konate signed from RB Leipzig last summer, Jurgen Klopp hasn’t had much reason to re-integrate Gomez into his backline.
Even when Gomez’s chance came at long last against Norwich City, he had to play out of position as a deputy for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back. Nonetheless, his performance served a reminder of his quality. Gomez can still be an important figure for Liverpool this season and beyond.
“Obviously it’s been a moment I’ve thought about for a long time,” Gomez said, reflecting on his first league start in 18 months. “I’ve had to wait longer than I would have hoped, but at the end of the day I’ve had to keep working and be the best member of the squad I can be, pushing the lads and doing my bit as well away from the pitch to try and be ready physically and mentally. So yeah, it does mean a lot.”
Gomez’s technical ability and positional awareness makes him perfect for Klopp’s approach. Indeed, the German coach demands that his defenders be good on the ball and Gomez offers Liverpool plenty playing out from the back – this is why he can comfortably shift over to the right back position.
At his best, when fitness wasn’t an issue, Gomez was Virgil van Dijk’s most natural central defensive partner. When Liverpool won their first league title in 30 years, Gomez was a key figure. Only one defender in the Premier League (Aymeric Laporte) attempted more passes per game than Gomez in the 2019/20 season, illustrating what the 24-year-old offers the Reds.
Even after the addition of Konate and with Matip’s impressive form in mind, Gomez is Liverpool’s best ball-playing central defender. This gives him an advantage over his competition although Klopp might feel Konate’s physicality in particular makes his team stronger at the back than they ever been before during his managerial tenure.
This time last year, Liverpool were scrambling for central defensive options. Injuries decimated their squad with Gomez, Matip and van Dijk all sidelined for lengthy spells. Now, they have the opposite problem – a bloated selection of centre backs. So far this season, Gomez has been the one to miss out. He has barley featured, playing just 26 minutes of Premier League football before Saturday’s game against Norwich City.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United have been linked with Gomez in the past and the defender will surely seek first team football somewhere else if regular game time doesn’t come his way at Liverpool. It could be the case that this summer presents the England international with a crossroads in his career.
However, Klopp would be foolish to banish a player of such unique skill set. Central defenders like Gomez are hard to find and such players are key to Liverpool’s system working as it should. Whether it’s at right back or in central defence, Gomez still has plenty more to offer. Just because he has been a forgotten figure doesn’t mean he can’t be a key player again.
