Jurgen Klopp handed major defensive hope after Liverpool double injury problem
Joe Gomez impressed on his first Anfield league start since February in Liverpool’s comfortable win over Aston Villa
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It’s been a promising start to the season for many players at Liverpool so far this season, with the Reds travelling to Wolves after the international break having won three and drawn one of their first four fixtures.
New signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have both impressed, Alisson Becker is as reliable as ever and Liverpool’s forward line looks as dangerous as any in the Premier League.
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But, fresh from their first clean sheet of the season, there is perhaps an unexpected positive for Jurgen Klopp emerging in his backline.
Because Joe Gomez has played his way back into the conversation after a fine defensive display, on the eve of the international break, against Aston Villa.
Indeed, injury and misfortune have seen Gomez step into the breach and perform admirably, first in a 10-man effort against Newcastle and then at Anfield in the win over Villa.
Ibrahima Konate’s injury problem and suspension for captain, Virgil van Dijk, have led to Jurgen Klopp calling on the 26-year-old to deputise in the heart of the defence. The issue comes at a time when conversations among Liverpool fans were often about the need to make a last-minute defensive addition after the focus fell on midfield during the transfer window.
And the treatment table gained another member of the Liverpool squad when Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with an apparent hamstring problem, on his first Anfield appearance as captain, late on against Villa.
It turned out to be a pleasant afternoon for the Reds backline after enjoying a strong defensive display against a haphazard Aston Villa side. Alisson Becker was called into action a handful of times but was largely untroubled, as their Midlands opponents were blunted by Liverpool’s dominance.
In a successful career with Liverpool, laden with winners medals in the Champions League and Premier League, Gomez’s time on Merseyside has been stop-start.
Indeed, he has endured torrid luck with injuries, firstly suffering a cruciate ligament injury, then an Achilles problem, plus ankle surgery – after being forced off against Burnley in 2018 – before succumbing to a serious knee injury during international duty with England.
For Gomez, it has been a difficult road back to the first-team and with his setbacks, as well as struggles in the squad, he has been a consistent member entrusted by the German head coach.
Against Aston Villa, he turned out one of his best performances in a red shirt on a landmark occasion as he surpassed 200 senior appearances.
The standout show comes at a perfect time for Liverpool as he can stake his claim for a regular starting spot in Klopp’s side. In the absence of Van Dijk and Konate, the previous question marks over the credibility of the options further down the ranks would then disappear.
