LEWIS STEELE: Joe Gomez has become part of the furniture at Anfield as Liverpool’s longest-serving player, but the versatile defender is living up to his sky-high potential this season
- Liverpool secured their first cup final of 2024 with a 1-1 draw against Fulham
- Gomez has proven himself to be a Swiss army knife in the defense of Jurgen Klopp’s side
- Be careful what you wish for Palace fans! Do you want to become a yo-yo club? It all starts
There was a touching moment before the match when Sky Sports pundit Daniel Sturridge, wearing a pretty pink scarf, told Liverpool’s Joe Gomez: “You were once my little brother, now you’re the longest-serving player.”
Gomez is now one of the big brothers at Liverpool. Only 26, mind you, but it feels like Gomez has always been there. He is the only survivor from when Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool in 2015.
Yet it has not always been easy for Gomez. There have probably been more hard times than good times, given the long list of injuries – anterior cruciate ligament damage, ankle surgery, long-term shin problems, to name just three.
But here he is, not only playing regularly again, but back to his best and finally discovering the enormous potential that many knew he had when he moved from Charlton to Liverpool as a youngster.
“Ain’t Nobody Like Joe Gomez,” the Liverpool fans sang, as they always do. “Makes me happy, makes me feel this way.” And there are few like Gomez, especially in terms of versatility. This season he has performed excellently as a left back, right back and central defender.
Joe Gomez is a stalwart for Liverpool and this season has been crucial to the battle on four fronts
Daniel Sturridge (pictured left in 2015) in his expert service reflected on the time when Gomez (right) felt like a ‘baby brother’
Whether it be playing on the right when Trent Alexander-Arnold needed a rest earlier this season, in defense when Virgil van Dijk was suspended or at left back, as seen recently when Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas were both injured.
Gomez has played 90 minutes in all of Liverpool’s matches so far in 2024 and has been as important as anyone in their four-front battle this season. He is likely to be rested in Sunday’s FA Cup match against Norwich but has given Jurgen Klopp a selection headache afterwards.
He’s hard to drop now and it would be tough to leave him out if Robertson – who is likely to get minutes in that Canaries game – is back to full fitness after a long spell on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder. That is of course a nice problem to have.
The 26-year-old may have planted a seed in Gareth Southgate’s mind ahead of EURO 2024
Gomez’s form will certainly also have planted seeds of thought in the minds of Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland ahead of England’s next games in March. No other English defender has the versatility that the 26-year-old can boast.
As Klopp said: ‘Without Joey, nothing would have happened. He’s played an exceptional, supreme defender and he’s coming in. Tried to end the discussion about not scoring, which has gone too far. But yes… a life saver!’