Steve McManaman says Liverpool have got a ‘priceless’ player who’s just like 33-year-old Real Madrid star

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Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman has raved about the ‘priceless’ nature of Joe Gomez.

Gomez has been an important player for Liverpool this season. Having started the campaign as fourth-choice centre-back, injuries have now seen the 26-year-old installed as the Reds’ current starting left-back.

His versatility has so far seen him play across the back line, as well as inverting into midfield from right-back. And speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, McManaman has claimed that Gomez is doing a similar, underrated job to Real Madrid pair Lucas Vazquez and Nacho Fernandez.

“I would be gutted if he left because people like Gomez are absolutely priceless to you at a football club,” raved the pundit

“If you go back to Real Madrid, they’ve got Lucas Vasquez and Nacho, who have both been at the club for over ten years. If you speak to any of their team-mates about what they think of them, they adore them. That’s why they’re still there.

“Teams need players like that and they are just as important as the superstars.”

Gomez earns Madrid comparison

This is a really good point from McManaman. Look at all that Vazquez and Nacho have helped Madrid win over the years. And yet neither have ever been a nailed-on starter.

Other players wouldn’t necessarily accept this rotational kind of role. But if you can find one who does – like Gomez – then you have to do everything to keep him.

Having spent the best part of ten years at Liverpool, Gomez seems happy at Liverpool. He signed a new contract in summer 2022 despite having played a squad role for much of the preceding year. The former Charlton man seemingly loves the club and his settled on Merseyside.

Still yet to peak, Gomez perhaps does still harbour hopes of finally hammering down a spot as one of the Reds’ starting centre-backs. But as his role evolves, that looks increasingly less likely to happen.

As McManaman points out though, that doesn’t mean that the England international can’t still be important to Liverpool. In football, versatility can be seen as damaging to your chances of a regular starting spot. And maybe it is. For someone like Gomez though, who has fallen down the pecking order, it can be a chance for regular minutes.

This season, Joe has only failed to feature in four Liverpool games. He may have started just 50 per cent of his 24 appearances, but he’s getting on the pitch more often than not. That hasn’t always been the case for him, and it’s really nice to see.

Nacho is comparable to Gomez as he is also used as a utility man across the defence for Madrid. Now 33, the Spaniard has played 337 times for Real and won every trophy there is numerous times. Vazquez meanwhile is a year younger and has 330 games under his belt.

At 26, Gomez still has years ahead of him to settle into this role. It may sound like a back-handed compliment but you do need these players to be successful. It’s great company for Joe to be in.