Sky Sports named Joe Gomez as Player of the Match after his performance for Liverpool vs Man City on Sunday. The defender was fantastic.
Joe Gomez is Liverpool’s fourth-choice centre-back – not the Reds’ first pick to go up against Erling Haaland, then. But Jurgen Klopp had to back the player on Sunday. Joel Matip was out and Ibrahima Konaté was a late withdrawal.
While James Milner playing at right-back took a lot of the attention, Gomez was up against it. Haaland, who continues to break records, looks unstoppable at times. Now he’d be up against someone who has struggled for consistency this season.
Gomez was particularly bad against Napoli earlier this season, for instance. People were perhaps a little worried – especially as Haaland would almost certainly drift towards his flank, rather than face Virgil van Dijk.
Well, we needn’t have worried. Gomez put in a fantastic performance, earning praise from Sky Sports as Player of the Match.
Liverpool player of the match vs Man City
Sky Sports point out that Gomez made 10 recoveries, 3 headed clearances and 6 clearances – all second-place for Liverpool. His display went further than that, though.
On the ball, Gomez had the second-most touches for the Reds and completed the most passes. He won three tackles from three attempts, too, and made an interception.
Most importantly, he did this while making life very difficult for Haaland. The Norwegian only really had the one great chance – a back-post header after a pass sailed just over Gomez’s head.
Haaland, who did try to avoid contests with Van Dijk, often found his path blocked by Gomez. At the very least, the centre-back contested everything City’s no.9 tried to do.
And Gomez did all of this while also helping Milner at right-back. He swept up behind the out-of-position veteran all afternoon long – a vital role for Liverpool.
Brilliant from Gomez, then. At his best, he remains one of the top centre-backs in the country and we saw that on full display against City.
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