Jamie Carragher has claimed that Liverpool badly need to add a new centre-back to their summer shopping list.
The Reds have had injury issues in the position this season, leading to Jurgen Klopp fielding a rotating cast. Last night Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk got the nod against Real Madrid at Anfield.
Things could hardly have gone worse for Gomez in particular, who suffered a truly torrid night. And speaking to CBS Sports Golazo after the 5-2 defeat, Carragher suggested that the 25-year-old now needs replacing.
“Joe Gomez tonight and, listen, we have all had bad nights, real bad nights as players and maybe I shouldn’t kick someone when they’re down as I’m sure he’ll feel terrible right now,” began the Liverpool legend.
“But Liverpool – we keep talking about midfielders they need – but Liverpool need defenders as well, as when they get exposed they can’t defend.”
Although Carra doesn’t come right out and say it, the inference here is clear. Gomez hasn’t looked up to scratch right from the off this season. He can no longer be relied upon at the top level. Time to move on.
Gomez shows his time is up
Gomez surprisingly signed a new deal last summer, keeping him at Liverpool until 2027. Having fallen down the pecking order in 2021/22, that seemed like a strange decision at the time.
His performances this season have only made it look even more weird. At times he’s been terrible. In one way though, Gomez has been vindicated – he’s played far more this campaign than in each of the last two.
It also means that, despite his poor performances, the former Charlton man still retains some transfer value. This could be a key point as Klopp addresses his options in the summer window.
But more than anything, it merely illustrates Liverpool’s failure to acknowledge when a player needs moving on. Last summer really felt like the perfect time to cut Gomez loose.
Instead, all the centre-back has done is merely confirm what already looked likely: injuries have completely halted his progress into an elite defender.
If coaches at Liverpool haven’t realised that after last night’s display, then they simply never will. Maybe it’s fine to keep Gomez around as a fourth-choice, but there now has to be more quality added in defence to the other three options. Thankfully, it appears the Reds may be preparing to do something of that nature this summer. Don’t bet on it, though.