Joe Gomez will wear the number 2 for Liverpool going forward. Here are the last seven players to don the shirt.
Liverpool announced on Friday that Joe Gomez will officially wear the number 2 shirt in the future. He switches from 12, giving him one of the more traditional numbers at the club.
Of course, it’s a number more associated with right-backs in English football – Trent Alexander-Arnold must just like number 66. Gomez, as more of a centre-back, brings a more South American vibe to things, where the number is usually work in the middle of defence.
And while it’s a number that has been worn by full-backs with Liverpool, Gomez isn’t the first centre-back. Stephane Henchoz wore it during his time at the club 20 years ago.
In total, seven players have work the shirt since squad numbers officially became a thing. So let’s have a look at the footsteps Gomez will follow in.
The number 2 at Liverpool
Rob Jones
Rob Jones was the first to take the number officially back in the early 90s. The right-back was held in fantastic regard as one of the best around but injuries would unfortunately prevent Jones from fulfilling his potential.
Definitely better than Gary Neville.
Stephane Henchoz
As we mentioned, Henchoz wore the number as part of a brilliant centre-back partnership with Sami Hyypia under Gerard Houllier. A treble-winner in 2001 who showed surprising ability as a goalkeeper in the FA Cup final.
Jan Kromkamp
The Dutchman was the latest attempt to replace Steve Finnan at right-back but he wouldn’t have much luck. 18 appearances over 12 months was all Kromkamp could muster
Álvaro Arbeloa
We’d completely forgotten that Arbeloa briefly wore the no.2 shirt on his arrival at Liverpool. He’d switch to 17 in the summer of 2007, though – the number he wore for most of his career. A brilliant right-back on his day.
Andrea Dossena
Dossena was a left-back, not a right-back but honestly, he just didn’t click in any position. The Italian struggled at Liverpool for almost the entirety of his stay. There was just one brief week where he scored wonderful goals against Manchester United and Real Madrid. Not a bad memory to leave.
Glen Johnson
Johnson was an extraordinary right-back at his best and arrived as a player who should have pushed Liverpool to the title. Instead, wild inconsistency marred his time with the club. When he was flying, though, what a right-back he was.
Nathaniel Clyne
Clyne was the last player to wear the no.2 for Liverpool and he was brilliant at times, to be fair. He just sort of faded away under Jurgen Klopp, however, and completely lost his position to Alexander-Arnold.
Joe Gomez
There’s a solid argument that Gomez immediately becomes the most talented player to officially wear the no.2 for Liverpool with his move. A ‘world-class’ talent, in the words of Jurgen Klopp, and one who brings a very bright future.