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 let you know that his most popular 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 in a position to turn into the beneficiary of comparable misfortune amongst his colleagues this time round.
It was a season through 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 staff.
Joe Gomez, 2023/24
Began: 31 (All competitions)
On instead: 20
Unused sub: 3
Objectives: 0
Assists: 3
General Season Score: 8.0
Versatility with out grievance
Gomez admitted as lately 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 through the title-winning season of 2019/20.
Because the marketing campaign wore on, it grew to become an increasing number of 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 skill to do a job wherever required.
It won’t have been his most popular 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 precise 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 constantly switched positions with the minimal of fuss and at all times exuded calmness, even when others round him had been responsible of dropping their heads.
There’s a discernible distinction between the function of a left-back and a right-back at the perfect of instances, much more so for the Reds through the closing 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 approach again into the England fold earlier this yr coped admirably with filling the sneakers 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 necessary late turnaround at Selhurst Park.
However what is going to Slot do with him?
Had Klopp opted to see out the ultimate two years of his contract at Anfield, Gomez could 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 beneath Brendan Rodgers all the best way again in August 2015.
There have been no scarcity of comprehensible requires defensive reinforcement this time final yr, with Joel Matip‘s impending departure and Ibrahima Konate‘s health report doing little to alleviate these considerations 12 months on.
The place that would depart Gomez stays undetermined, however the perspective he confirmed, at instances, attempting circumstances throughout 2023/24 proves he nonetheless has greater than sufficient abdomen for the battle.
Not since 2012 has a Liverpool supervisor had the luxurious of a full summer season and pre-season upon arrival, so we will count on loads of contemporary 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 good Bob Paisley to seek out the final time we’ve identified 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 usually as Gomez has within the final yr, 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 countless debate about Alexander-Arnold’s place is coming into its eighth summer season, all whereas query marks linger over the health data of Gomez’s fellow centre-backs.
Who is aware of, Arne could be the one to lastly get a aim out of him. I’m drooling on the prospect of that celebration simply picturing it.
Finest second: Pocketing Bukayo Saka twice within the area of two weeks over Christmas in opposition to 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 could 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.
