Joe Gomez Earning His Place In The Liverpool Side
In May 2023, as the season drew to a close, Liverpool fans alike were drawing their conclusions on who should be leaving the club in the Summer when the transfer window re-opened. On the back of a horrible campaign, arguably Liverpool’s worst under Jurgen Klopp, many names were being suggested and one that came up with great regularity was Joe Gomez.
Gomez, along with the rest of Liverpool’s back line, had endured a miserable 2022/23 and whilst regulars such as Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson were spared, Gomez was one who many regarded as ‘deadwood’ and collectively agreed he had reached the end of his time at Anfield.
Fast forward to January 2024 and the Gomez redemption arc is complete. The former Charlton player finds himself as a frequent starter, assisted by injuries to Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, and is becoming a key component in an ever-improving Reds defence.
Gomez Takes His Chance
There’s absolutely no doubt that Gomez has been given this opportunity due to the absence of others. The first-choice Liverpool defence does not include Joe Gomez. Well, it didn’t used to. The Reds have been consistently hampered by injuries this season and that has required full use of the squad, not to mention that Liverpool are fighting on all four fronts still.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is currently facing his second spell out this season, Joel Matip is out for the season and both Konate and Van Dijk have missed games through injuries/illness respectively. It is at left-back though where Liverpool have been most bare. Andy Robertson’s dislocated shoulder whilst on international duty for Scotland in October paved the way for Kostas Tsimikas to come into the side, only for the Greek international to also find himself ruled out for a period after a clash with Bukayo Saka (and Jurgen Klopp) during Liverpool’s 1–1 draw with Arsenal in December.
It’s a testament to Gomez’s versatility that he has now seamlessly slotted into left-back to replace Robertson and Tsimikas in what is probably his ‘third choice’ position across the back line after centre-back and right-back.
Read More: How Much Do Darwin Nunez’s Missed Chances Cost Liverpool?
Gomez Outperforming Others
To those who watch Liverpool every week, it is clear to see that Gomez’s performances have been to a high standard. This Liverpool side is beginning to look closer every week to the best versions of Jurgen Klopp teams and so to be a part of it, you need to be good.
What’s particularly notable though is that Gomez is actually outperforming those he has replaced in certain areas and Liverpool are reaping the rewards of that. No one expects Joe Gomez to replicate the creative output that an Andy Robertson or even Kostas Tsimikas offers, especially when playing on his ‘weaker’ side down the left, but his willingness to burst forward and support attacks, go on the overlap and supply crosses is still a key component to the Reds attack and has many Liverpool fans hoping that that first elusive goal in professional football for Gomez is on its way.
Despite his offensive limitations in comparison to others, his cross for Darwin Nunez’s second goal against Bournemouth, (Liverpool’s fourth) from right back where he had now shifted to following substitutions, was something Trent Alexander-Arnold would have been proud of. What’s also been interesting is that Gomez will also at times ‘invert’, much like Alexander-Arnold, a tool designed to get the best out of Trent but one that will still be utilised as part of the wider game plan even in his absence. Again, Gomez can’t offer the quality of Liverpool’s Number 66 but then not many can. Still, he’s comfortable in there and does the job.
Where Gomez is standing out though is defensively and the stats back that up. It should be said that the sample size is still relatively small and Liverpool appear to be coming into their stride now at the time that Gomez is in the side, having somewhat stumbled their way through some of their games at the start of the season when Robertson was in, which was no fault of his own.
Per 90 minutes, Gomez leads the way on both Roberton and Tsimikas on tackles made, aerial duel success, interceptions and clearances. Liverpool also average fewer goals conceded per 90 with Gomez in the side compared to the other two.
Does Gomez Keep His Place?
Defensive stats must be taken in context. The amount of possession, quality and tactical approach of the opponent must be taken into consideration but there’s no doubt that Gomez’s addition to the side has been of benefit to the Reds. Earlier in the season, many thought that Gomez starting at left back would be the key to making the Reds tick with the new role for Trent, allowing the left-back to come inside and be a bit narrower in more of a back three, however Gomez still often finds himself responsible for supporting attacks as a conventional left-back would. As mentioned before, Gomez’s offensive output is not going to match those whom he has replaced but Liverpool don’t need it to be. They have so many different offensive weapons that at the moment, even without Salah and Alexander-Arnold, The Reds are still finding ways to score plenty of goals to win games.
It begs the question as to whether Andy Robertson’s impending return from injury sees him automatically go back into the Starting 11. We all know it’s a squad game and certain situations require certain profiles of player but Joe Gomez has certainly staked a claim to keep his place.
Whatever happens, the redemption arc is complete and Gomez can consider himself a key cog in this Liverpool squad once more.
Now let’s see if he can go and score that goal. It will be mental when he does.
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