‘Incredible’ player can thank 20-year-old for giving him a second chance at Liverpool – RTK View

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Joe Gomez has someone to thank for potentially saving his Liverpool career. The defender is back in the fold at Anfield.

Joe Gomez was a regular centre-back in one of the most dominant teams English football has ever seen only two years ago. Go back to October 2020 and he was the star defender at Liverpool, asked to step up and replace Virgil van Dijk for a title challenge.

Then a serious injury struck and only 18 months later, we’re questioning Gomez’s future. After all, he’s only started two Premier League games this season, featuring for 195 minutes in total. This from a player Jurgen Klopp labelled ‘incredible’ earlier in the campaign.

It’s an unbelievable decline and recent transfer reports ask if Liverpool even see a future for the 24-year-old. Go back a month and we’d say that no, they don’t. Gomez doesn’t play and looks like a distant fourth-choice centre-back. That’s not exactly where he needs to be.

But the past two weeks have been a reminder of what Gomez can bring. And he might need to thank a certain 20-year-old for that.

Joe Gomez at Liverpool

Liverpool have quality, natural cover in every position right now – except right-back. That’s because Trent Alexander-Arnold’s backup, Neco Williams, left to play regular football on loan at Fulham.

He’s been fantastic there and could well make the move permanent in the summer. At the very least, a second loan is on the cards.

Thus Gomez took to the field against Watford last weekend and reminded everyone that he’s actually a solid right-back. In fact, he delivered an assist you’d usually only see from Alexander-Arnold – it was a fantastic cross.

That kind of cover makes Gomez all the more valuable. Not only is he there to put pressure on the centre-backs but Liverpool don’t need another right-back in their squad. They can make it work with Gomez and Williams can be out on loan.

Certainly, it’s a way for Gomez to get more games next season. His dual-role in the squad elevates him and it could be what saves his Liverpool career.

If Gomez can fill that place in the squad, he’ll stick around. If he sticks around long enough, the 24-year-old will naturally regain his position as a first-choice centre-back once Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk wind down.

It wouldn’t be possible if Williams was content as backup behind Alexander-Arnold. His decision to move might just be what saves Gomez at Anfield.