December is the biggest month in the career of Joe Gomez

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The next month will be absolutely vital in the career of Joe Gomez. It could make or break his time at Liverpool.

Gomez was outstanding at the start of last season and looked like a player who could play at Anfield for the rest of his career. He hasn’t been anywhere near that level this season, however.

In fact, Gomez has struggled so much that he’s gone from being second-choice to fourth-choice centre-half in a year. That’s quite a downfall and one that does put his place at Liverpool in jeopardy.

Joel Matip usurped his spot and has gone on to become one of the best around. Even Dejan Lovren, who looked as though he may leave in the summer, is now firmly ahead of the Englishman.

Gomez is at a key period in his career, too. He needs games at the highest level in order to develop properly – he’ll have eyes on an England spot, after all.

He did start against Napoli, although it was at right-back as backup for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Not ideal for a player who looks infinitely more at home in the centre.

Gomez is effectively third-choice at centre-half as Matip is out with an injury. And so, with Liverpool’s schedule, Gomez may benefit from the constant flow of games in December.

Players will need resting and Gomez will get proper chances to show what he can do at centre-half.

The catch is that it’s almost make-or-break. If Gomez doesn’t perform then he’ll be firmly fourth-choice for the ‘business end’ of the season. It’s not a good place to be as Liverpool will almost certainly make changes in the summer – and players at the back of the line will be in danger.

But if Gomez has what it takes to make it at Anfield, he can show it once again in the coming weeks. He certainly looked good enough this time last year – now he just needs to show that ability is still there.