Virgil van Dijk prefers to play alongside Joe Gomez in Liverpool defence
According to the Liverpool Echo, Virgil van Dijk has given his Reds teammate Joe Gomez the biggest compliment by giving his seal of approval.
Participating in a Twitter Q and A session, the imperious Dutchman was asked who he prefers to play alongside in the heart of the defence. He wasted no time in picking his Reds teammate Joe Gomez.
The 28-year-old is widely considered as the finest defender in the world. His approval of Gomez will be seen as a mark of respect for the youngster’s talents.
Still just 22, Gomez has made 100 appearances for Liverpool. He has also played in two European finals, winning the latter last season. Capable of playing on either flank, he has often been described as a complete footballer in the moulds of Rio Ferdinand.
Known for his athleticism and skill on the ball, Gomez is also capable of bringing the ball out of defence. He shares a good relationship with Van Dijk, a player he refers to as “big brother”.
He has established himself alongside Van Dijk this season as Jurgen Klopp’s first choice in the Liverpool defence. Impressively, the Reds are yet to lose a match where the duo has started together.
Liverpool have enjoyed a resurgence in defence following the Champions League final loss in 2018. The pair has conceded only 11 Premier League goals in 2,661 minutes of football together, helping Liverpool foster a reputation for being stingy.
The duo has contributed to a total of 16 cheatsheets from the 25 games played together at centre-back. With Van Dijk in his prime and Gomez yet to hit his, a long and successful partnership is on the cards.
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Gomez has won eight caps for the English national team. He has represented the national youth sides at various levels. He was a part of the England squad that won the European Under-17 Championships in 2014, where he made the team of the tournament. The 22-year-old was also a part of the English squad that finished third in the UEFA Nations League in 2019.
