‘Sensational’ Liverpool player could be about to get more game time, after 20-year-old leaves Liverpool – RTK View

Add as preferred source on Google

Neco Williams departure from Liverpool can be seen as a win-win for those involved.

The player hopefully gets more game-time on loan at Fulham than he would at Liverpool, while his value potentially soars in the process.

A door opens for Gomez

Another inadvertent beneficiary could be Joe Gomez. With Williams gone, Liverpool’s only natural option at right-back beyond Trent Alexander-Arnold is 18-year-old Conor Bradley.

Although not necessarily a like-for-like replacement for Trent, Gomez has far more experience in the position than the youngster Bradley.

This could, and likely will, mean that the 24-year-old is the man to cover if and when Alexander-Arnold needs a rest.

Backing from the manager

Jurgen Klopp trusts Gomez at right-back. Playing him there does mean that Liverpool lose some of their thrust going forward, but it also provides them with a more solid defensive base.

Although Klopp has himself acknowledged that this solution isn’t perfect, especially if you’re in-and-out of the team as Gomez is currently, the player’s ability as a “sensational footballer” mean that it is possible.

“Joe jumped between right-back and centre-half, which is not perfect when you have no rhythm,” Klopp told liverpoolfc.com in January 2020.

“But since he is playing as a centre-half again – his natural position – together with Virg there is exceptional. He is a sensational footballer, which is good.”

What next for Gomez

Gomez has repeatedly been linked with a move away from Liverpool. Real Madrid were said to be “monitoring” his situation (BBC Sport). That didn’t materialise in the end in January.

But if he continues to be overlooked by Klopp then it’s likely that those rumours will continue into the summer.

If he can get more meaningful minutes in the team that would ease the rumours off. Even if it as right-back, it’s important that Liverpool don’t let Gomez slip away.

Because when he gets a run in the team Klopp is right, he does look like a sensational footballer.