Liverpool’s present longest-serving participant loved extra minutes than ever earlier than in 2023/24, carving out a brand new function because the utility man for Jurgen Klopp.
Joe Gomez will nonetheless inform you that his most well-liked place is on the coronary heart of the Reds’ defence, however the emergence of Jarell Quansah and accidents on each flanks meant he was predominantly deployed as a full-back all through the marketing campaign.
His personal profession has been hampered by a sequence of unlucky health setbacks, so it feels considerably apt that he was capable of turn into the beneficiary of comparable misfortune amongst his colleagues this time round.
It was a season by which his dedication to the trigger was rewarded with the whole lot however that elusive first skilled aim, and one the place he proved how a lot of a useful asset he nonetheless is to this workforce.
Joe Gomez, 2023/24
Began: 31 (All competitions)On in its place: 20Unused sub: 3Goals: 0Assists: 3Overall Season Score: 8.0
Versatility with out criticism
Gomez admitted as not too long ago as November that he feels his skill-set stays finest suited to working as a centre-back, having struck up a formidable partnership with skipper Virgil van Dijk throughout the title-winning season of 2019/20.
Because the marketing campaign wore on, it turned increasingly more obvious that the supervisor had different concepts, that includes there in simply 5 of his 51 appearances throughout all competitions.
Liverpool’s No. 2 even made a few appearances as a defensive midfielder as we headed in the direction of the house straight, an indication of the immense belief Klopp has been keen to put in his capacity to do a job wherever required.
It won’t have been his most well-liked route again into the facet, however his stints in varied spots noticed him scare the aim on an nearly weekly foundation, and sparked debate round when he’ll lastly finish his wait to get on the scoresheet.
Whereas an undesirable byproduct of that has been the insufferable cries of ‘SHOOT’ from the stands when choosing the ball up within the opposition half, it enabled him to specific himself in new-found methods.
A bounce-back season
Wherever Gomez was requested to play, there was little to fault so far as his contribution to the facet was involved.
He repeatedly switched positions with the minimal of fuss and all the time exuded calmness, even when others round him had been responsible of shedding their heads.
There’s a discernible distinction between the function of a left-back and a right-back at the very best of instances, much more so for the Reds throughout the ultimate season of Klopp’s reign.
When requested to fill in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gomez created his personal interpretation of the inverted right-back place that has been taken up by the vice-skipper for almost all of the final 12 months.
Likewise, the person who labored his means again into the England fold earlier this 12 months coped admirably with filling the footwear of one of many membership’s greatest-ever left-backs in Andy Robertson, this time within the extra conventional sense.
His affect was maybe finest demonstrated when he changed Wataru Endo at half-time away to Crystal Palace.
He supplied defensive solidity that allowed Alexander-Arnold to maneuver into midfield, with each serving to to encourage an vital late turnaround at Selhurst Park.
However what’s going to Slot do with him?
Had Klopp opted to see out the ultimate two years of his contract at Anfield, Gomez might have resigned himself to being tied to the touchlines for the foreseeable.
However as issues stand, there aren’t any scarcity of variables throughout the pitch as we stay up for Arne Slot‘s Liverpool.
The 26-year-old’s function has fluctuated drastically since making his debut as a fresh-faced teenager underneath Brendan Rodgers all the way in which again in August 2015.
There have been no scarcity of comprehensible requires defensive reinforcement this time final 12 months, with Joel Matip‘s impending departure and Ibrahima Konate‘s health document doing little to alleviate these considerations 12 months on.
The place that would depart Gomez stays undetermined, however the perspective he confirmed, at instances, making an attempt circumstances throughout 2023/24 proves he nonetheless has greater than sufficient abdomen for the battle.
Not since 2012 has a Liverpool supervisor had the posh of a full summer time and pre-season upon arrival, so we are able to count on loads of recent and funky concepts throughout the board as we enter this thrilling new period of the soccer membership.
You’d need to go even additional again to the departure of the nice Bob Paisley to search out the final time we now have recognized about such a state of affairs forward of the shut of the season.
It’d really feel like a frightening prospect for a person who has switched positions as typically as Gomez has within the final 12 months, however the actual fact that he featured extra instances in 2023/24 than in any earlier marketing campaign is an effective platform to construct from.
The seemingly infinite debate about Alexander-Arnold’s place is getting into its eighth summer time, all whereas query marks linger over the health information of Gomez’s fellow centre-backs.
Who is aware of, Arne is perhaps the one to lastly get a aim out of him. I’m drooling on the prospect of that celebration simply picturing it.
Greatest second: Pocketing Bukayo Saka twice within the area of two weeks over Christmas towards Arsenal.
Worst second: A poor show within the humiliating 3-0 defeat at residence to Atalanta, however he wasn’t alone.
Position subsequent season: Slot might look to utilise his versatility, however Gomez will little doubt be eager to nail down an everyday spot in a single place having already entered his peak years.
