Jurgen Klopp’s support for Joe Gomez for an England return would come as no surprise to those who have seen the defender’s amazing adaptability and unflinching dedication on the field this season.
Despite struggling with injury concerns throughout his time on Merseyside, the player has demonstrated incredible mental strength to overcome his difficulties and stand tall and strong in the face of adversity, contributing to the Reds’ cause this season on all fronts.
Despite only being capped 11 times for the Three Lions since his debut over seven years ago, Gomez’s recent performances would definitely have piqued Gareth Southgate’s interest as he prepares to pick his squad for the forthcoming international break. Gomez last appeared for England on October 8, 2020, playing 58 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Wales.
Is a comeback in the cards?
At 26 years old, Gomez has established as a Liverpool veteran, demonstrating his versatility by easily switching between numerous defensive responsibilities. Gomez has repeatedly demonstrated his coolness, tactical acumen, and defensive brilliance in recent matches, whether deployed at left-back, right-back, centre-back, or even defensive midfielder position.
Klopp’s love for Joey’s diverse skill set was clear in his post-match comments following Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest. The Liverpool manager emphasized Gomez’s ability to cover numerous positions well, highlighting his value to the England group. Here’s what the gaffer had to say via the Daily Mail:
“I’m not standing here telling Gareth who to pick, but you can have one player and cover four spots. Wonderful.”
“If you play football at this level, there is [a big] difference between centre-half, full-back, right, left, to the No. 6 – and he is capable of that transition in his mind.”
Gomez’s adaptability is similar to having a football jackpot in your pocket. Need someone to secure the left flank? Call Gomez. Looking for a sturdy presence in the heart of defence? Gomez comes to the rescue. And why not throw in some defensive midfield practice while we’re at it? Yes, you guessed it. Gomez is your guy. Call us Hank Schrader, because we can vouch for Gomey.
