Alan Shearer says he always thought 26-year-old Liverpool player could make a huge mistake before this season

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Liverpool’s improvement from last season has been seen right the way across the board.

The difference between the Reds of 2022/23 and 2023/24 is there for all to see. Where players were struggling last time out, this term they look assured, comfortable and ready to compete.

Some members of Jurgen Klopp’s squad stand out in this regard more than others. Virgil van Dijk is one in particular who has really rediscovered his best form again. The captain is perhaps the best example of this.

But another one has got to be Joe Gomez. Rewind to the end of last campaign, and many would have had Gomez sold. After several years battling injuries, it looked like it had all caught up to the 26-year-old. Now though, Gomez looks a new player. And speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Alan Shearer says the defender no longer looks like an accident waiting to happen.

“Do you know the big improvement for me [in Gomez] is?” Shearer mused to co-hosts Gary Lineker and Micah Richards.

“I always felt that there was a huge error in him but certainly in recent games he has been outstanding and he was again last night in that game [vs Fulham]. Everything he did he was reliable, his pace was able to get Liverpool out of trouble at times and he defended really well. He was impressive again.”

Shearer no longer concerned over Gomez

Shearer won’t be alone in this thinking. In fact, you’d have to say that he’s pretty much hit the nail on the head.

It isn’t that Gomez has always looked shaky in the past. He’s had moments and extended periods where he’s really shone.

But there have been occasions where Joe has looked a bit of a liability. We all know the games. Plenty of them came last season.

Napoli away was a real low point for Gomez, but perhaps an even greater nadir came for him in the last-16 of the Champions League against Real Madrid.

Having been thrust into the side owing to Ibrahima Konate’s injury, the former Charlton youngster looked lost all night. Even to this day, the feeling can’t be shaken that had Konate been playing that evening, Liverpool might have held onto their two goal lead.

Fast-forward almost a year though, and things couldn’t be more different for Gomez. Arguably the form player in the defence, you’d back him to do a job against anyone now.

Of course, there will be moments still when the England international makes a mistake. All defenders do, even the great Van Dijk. But the crucial thing is that at one time, Gomez looked uncertain in everything he did. Now, the assuredness has returned to his game.

Still only 26, Joe still has time to make this season the norm rather than the exception. With his injuries hopefully a thing of the past, there’s no reason he can’t do that.