Joe Gomez has come under huge praise from Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool FC boss’s pre-game interview as the Reds’ gear up to face Manchester City away from home on Sunday.
The English international has been a sole custodian in the Liverpool FC backline after recent injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Fabinho left Klopp with no senior options in the centre-back spot, forcing the German coach to give first-team opportunities to Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams.
However, Gomez has stood tall in his usual position of a right-sided central defender despite constant injury troubles to his teammates meaning that the 23-year-old has been patterned by different players almost every other week.
Joe Gomez vs Midtjylland:
• 88% passing
• 86/98 passes (most in game)
• 7/7 aerial duels (most in game)
• 2/3 tackles
• 4 clearances (most for LFC)
• Clean sheetAnother strong performance from @J_Gomez97 👌 pic.twitter.com/Mt0jPOxqKw
— LFC Stats (@LFCData) October 28, 2020
Ahead of the away fixture at the Etihad Stadium, in what would be Gomez’s 100th career league appearance, Klopp hailed the influence the defender has had on the recent fortunes of the Reds over the past few games.
“He’s still young, so impressive number, impressive boy.
“He came here before me, so he’s here even longer than me. He played left-back, he played right-back, when Brendan [Rodgers] played with three in the back, different positions.
“He played together with Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel, all these guys, then Dejan Lovren, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip. So he had so many different partners but he was always the kid in the line pretty much and that changed now obviously completely.
“And how everybody in life, we have to grow in situations like this and he did that. He used the last few weeks obviously, pretty much thrown in cold water if you want, and used it really well.
The ongoing season has not been all been as smooth a ride for the ex-Charlton man, as his performance in Liverpool FC’s 7-2 loss to Aston Villa was subject to overwhelming censure, but since then, Gomez has been much more convincing as well as inspiring in his showings at the back and looks all set to step up for his side in the major absence of Virgil van Dijk.
