Jurgen Klopp’s team selection for Liverpool’s game against Leeds United this evening is great news for Joe Gomez.
The 25-year-old once again partners Virgil Van Dijk at the back, despite the return to fitness of Ibrahima Konate.
Klopp confirmed yesterday that Konate was available for tonight’s big match at Anfield. But although Gomez has started the last five games for the Reds, the manager hasn’t deemed him in need of a rest.
Instead, Gomez has the chance to really nail down his spot in the team. His form hasn’t always been amazing during the absences of Konate and Joel Matip, but he’s done enough to keep his place in the side.
As his two positional rivals come back into the picture, he’s now well placed to ward them off.
Gomez handed chance to grasp starting spot
It’s a big night for Gomez. With Konate on the bench, he’ll know that his run in the team could soon be coming to an end.
Put in another display like the one seen at Nottingham Forest last week, and that will surely be the case.
But if he can rise back to the ‘brilliant’ levels he showed the previous week against Manchester City, the shirt should be his to lose.
Klopp has always shown a willingness to keep players in the team who are in form. Gomez suffered from this last season as he simply couldn’t get past either Konate or Matip.
Now, he could be on the other side of it. His run alongside Van Dijk has yielded three clean sheets after all.
Coming off the back of a period where Liverpool simply couldn’t stop conceding the first goal, there have been encouraging signs.
Post another clean sheet and a good display against Leeds this evening, and Klopp will have no reason to take him out the side.
Liverpool are lucky enough to have four top quality options at centre-back. With three of them now available, the healthy competition should bring out the best in them.
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