Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Joe Gomez will switch to a permanent role at the heart of the defence for Liverpool. The young defender has impressed this season at right-back and has established himself as a key member of Klopp’s first-team plans this season.
The 20-year-old has already featured 27 times in all competitions for the Reds this season. Gomez joined Liverpool from Charlton as an 18-year-old in 2015 and immediately made an impact under manager Brendan Rodgers then.
However, a long-term injury hampered his progress but this season, he has exactly shown why he is so highly-rated in England and also earned himself two national team caps last year.
At Charlton, Gomez was primarily used as a centre-back and also plays for his country in that position but at Liverpool, he has been seldom been used as a centre-half due to a host of experienced central defenders at the club.
This campaign has been a breakthrough one for Gomez, who has shown his top potential in every game he has played.
The injury to Nathaniel Clyne provided a fantastic chance to both Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold to flourish at right-back and the duo grabbed its opportunities with both hands.
Now that Clyne has attained full fitness and completed 90 minutes for the under-23 side in their 4-0 victory over Stoke on Sunday, Klopp is very happy to see the full-back position well-stocked.
“It’s an unbelievably important position,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It is one of the most important in world football because they were defenders but now they are sometimes defenders and sometimes attackers.
“Clyne is the most experienced one but was injured. He has speed, is technically good, he is not really an offensive player, but he protects well and helps a lot in defensive moments.
“Then there is Trent, who is very offensive-orientated, fantastic crosses, a good footballer.”
Our gaffer has admitted that Gomez will soon make the switch from right-back to centre-back.
“Gomez is coming from the centre more, he will in the future play there. He has to improve but is more the defensive part for a full-back,” our boss added.
Liverpool fans have been crying out to see the central-defensive pairing of January signing Virgil van Dijk and Gomez and it looks like it’s going to be fulfilled sooner than later.
