Joe Gomez Still Needs To Take Each Game As It Comes At Liverpool

This could be Joe Gomez’ year at Liverpool.

The twenty one year old has been an ever present in the Premier League for the Reds this term, playing at centre back and keeping Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren out of the team.

The youngster has impressed in beside Virgil van Dijk and against Leicester City in their last outing Joe was the more composed out of the two, which is a huge compliment when you consider Virgil’s talents.

His early season form has also saw Joseph receive a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad and he started in the Three Lions recent game against Spain, winning his fourth international cap.

At the moment Gomez must be supremely confident and he looks a shoe in to be a regular starter for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

I’d urge a tiny bit of caution, Joe Gomez has to still take each game as it comes because he still needs to prove that he can handle the weight of expectation that comes with being an automatic first team player at Anfield.

The young defender has missed large chunks of previous seasons due to injuries. Hopefully the former Charlton Athletic player can stay clear of injury and get a fair crack of the whip.

There will be very little room for error as any costly mistakes from the England international could see him dropped in favour of a respectable replacement in Lovren or Matip.

His versatility, Gomez can play anywhere in the backline, shows that he’s intelligent and highly adaptable. He’s also smart on the ball and can play it out from the deep defensive positions.

Klopp will appreciate his pace too, it’s always good to have a defender that can play against speed merchants and that can sweep up any mistakes that might happen elsewhere in the defence.

He can also mx it up with the tough strikers of the Premier League.

His manager was impressed with how he handled Brighton and Hove Albion hitman Glenn Murray:

“He has been very good and today was a big test,”

“Obviously Brighton thought ‘let’s pick Joe Gomez for the long ball challenge with Murray’ and Joe did really well.”

“I don’t think he made one foul. He won maybe 70-80% of those duels and Murray had one or two foul situations, and from my point of view (to give) a third or fourth one would not have been a mistake either.

As I’ve previously stated, Gomez has done well beside Van Dijk thus far during this campaign. They seem to have developed a real understanding. They look strong and don’t seem to have many weaknesses. The more they play together the better that partnership should get.

I’ve really enjoyed watching Joe Gomez for Liverpool this term but it’s going to get tougher with the Champions League looming. Plus he still needs to go through a campaign without suffering from an jury setback.

If he can carry on in the same vein as he’s started this term, then by the end of the season he could become an automatic pick both for Jurgen Klopp and Gareth Southgate.

 

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