Craig Bellamy has slammed Dejan Lovren as the Liverpool ‘weak link’ and is convinced that Joe Gomez is a superior player already.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Debate podcast on Monday night, the former Anfield forward explained why Liverpool are better without the 29-year-old, who scaled new heights in his career this year.
Gomez has started all four of Liverpool’s matches this season after injury ruled out Joel Matip and Lovren, who is recovering from a pelvic injury.
When asked how hard Lovren will find getting his spot back, Bellamy told Sky Sports: “Hopefully very difficult. Lovren got to a Champions League final and a World Cup final and he’ll tell you he’s one of the best defenders in the world.
“I’m not quite sure about that because watching Liverpool closely, even going into a Champions League final, my two biggest concerns were Lovren and the goalkeeper.
“I’ve always felt, even last season, Everton, he gave a soft penalty out of nowhere. Teams were looking to play on his side and counter-attack off the back of him because he’s very vulnerable to counter attacks.
“He was Liverpool’s weak link. That’s why I’m so impressed with Gomez because the balance of the team is so much better with him and Van Dijk.”
OPINION
Is Gomez a better player already than Lovren? That is a huge claim, given some of the Croatian’s dominant performances for club and country in what has been a memorable year for the player. He was an integral performer in the Liverpool side that reached the Champions League final and the Croatia team that were World Cup runners-up. He has lost his starting place at Liverpool due to injury, as has Joel Matip, and Gomez has seized his opportunity brilliantly. The 21-year-old Englishman delivered his best performance yet in last weekend’s 2-1 Premier League win against Leicester City, a match in which the visitors played poorly but dug deep to secure a fourth consecutive victory. He is certainly quicker than Lovren and Matip, and his defensive awareness is hugely impressive. But the senior duo are more dominant in the air and play in a more aggressive style. Lovren is flawed but he still has plenty to offer Liverpool.