Since joining Liverpool back in the summer of 2015 as a young English defender who not many supporters would have heard of, Joe Gomez has slowly worked his way into Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.
The 21-year-old has started this season extremely well at the heart of the Liverpool defence alongside Virgil van Dijk and is starting to look like a really good bit of business done by the club, something which fans did not expect.
@LFC that’s not Firmino
— chris grogan (@chrisgrogan7) June 20, 2015
https://twitter.com/KopiteLuke1892/status/612214441367703552
https://twitter.com/DomLFC/status/612213528624275456
@LFC @BBCNWT omg we have hit rock bottom
— Ian Fagan LFC (@ianfagan) June 20, 2015
@LFC @premierleague Please sign high profile players and challenge for EPL tittle
— Timothy Karyo 🐐 (@KaryoPobe) June 20, 2015
@LFC we have seen worse from Liverpool but!they keep making mistakes each time
— shushu Jama (@0208shushu2) June 20, 2015
@LFC another player the owners would like to make a profit on in years to come…
— Cooperino (@Mr_Cooperr_22) June 20, 2015
Last campaign, Liverpool came under heavy criticism for their defensive displays with Dejan Lovren and goalkeeper Loris Karius, in particular, being singled out for their constant errors made at the back.
With Liverpool struggling in defence, Klopp decided to move for van Dijk in the January transfer window following a previous failed pursuit last summer which ended in Southampton threatening legal action against the club (via Goal).
The German, of course, eventually got his man and left many suggesting the Reds were now just a goalkeeper and one more central defender away from a title challenge.
And in Alisson — brought in from AS Roma this summer — and Gomez, Liverpool now have that.
In contrast to Lovren, Gomez is calm and composed, often making the right decision in whatever task he is faced with.
Compared to the current Premier League champions Manchester City, however, Liverpool still fall quite short in terms of central defensive options.
While Gomez has been solid thus far and has much potential, Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are all a grade above the former Charlton man.
Nevertheless, Gomez is proving to be a shrewd acquisition for Liverpool and is making those supporters who instantly wrote him off look silly.
