Jurgen Klopp has hailed the ability of Liverpool defender Joe Gomez.
The 24-year-old is yet to start a Premier League game this season. In fact, his four substitute appearances amount to just 16 minutes on the pitch.
But the Liverpool manager says that the centre-back’s lack of minutes is purely a question of luck, or lack of it.
Klopp was speaking to press at the AXA Training Ground ahead of Liverpool’s game against Leicester City tonight. As per liverpoolfc.com, he reserved special praise for Gomez.
“It’s really unlucky for Joe, absolutely. When Joe played for us, he consistently played on an incredibly high level, one of the best centre-halves in England for sure,” said Klopp.
The manager also claimed that Gomez would definitely have played last weekend’s FA Cup game with Cardiff City if not for a positive Covid test.
“There was really bad timing – he would have definitely played Cardiff, it would have helped him to gain some rhythm, momentum if you want. He couldn’t play there because of COVID and these kind of things. It’s tough,” the 54-year-old said.
Does Gomez have a future with Liverpool
Gomez has had an incredibly frustrating season. A knee injury ruled him out just as he looked set to take on a big role for Liverpool last season. Maybe as a result of that injury, he just hasn’t been able to get going.
Whereas Virgil Van Dijk was straight back into the team, Gomez has now slipped behind Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate in the centre-back pecking order.
The fact that he would have had some game-time on Sunday but wasn’t able to play would have been tough to take for him.
Lack of game time for the £3.5m signing from Charlton Athletic has led to speculation over his future.
But Klopp says that Gomez’s age and quality means that he doesn’t have to worry about what is to come.
“The quality of the boys, and especially of Joe – who played obviously not enough football in the last few months – is incredible,” said the German.
“It’s never nice for the players, I understand that 100 per cent, but Joe takes it really professional so far and knows he’s still a young lad and everything will be fine in the future. But in the moment, it’s for sure harder.”
Klopp’s comments that ‘everything will be fine in the future’ suggest that Gomez is still in his plans. Liverpool have plenty of games to come this season, so he will hopefully get a chance to stake his claim.
But as the season goes on, the games get bigger. Unless there are injuries, it’s hard to see how Klopp changes his mind on who he plays at the back.
Gomez’s qualities are clear. But if he isn’t going to play at Liverpool, he won’t develop into the brilliant centre-halve he so obviously could become.
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