Alan Shearer has drooled over Liverpool trio Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, claiming they have “great futures” ahead of them.
Writing in his weekly Sun column, the Premier League’s record goalscorer identified explained how the Anfield three can be crucial to a title challenge in which he predicts Liverpool can push Manchester City all the way in a two-horse race.
Shearer has been impressed with how Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded just once in their opening four Premier League matches, all of which they have won.
“Virgil van Dijk, bought for £75m in January, is starting to look like the leader and centre-back that Liverpool have been crying out for. If he continues to improve, his influence will grow and grow,” Shearer told the Sun.
“It was on the solid foundations of Alan Hansen and Phil Thompson that much of the club’s success was built back in the 80s. Now Liverpool have Joe Gomez alongside Van Dijk, who would have undoubtedly gone to the World Cup with England had he not been injured.
“At just 21, Gomez has a great future ahead of him — as do 19-year-old Trent Alexander Arnold at right-back and Andrew Robertson, 24, on the left.
“With the experience of Van Dijk guiding them all, it is an excellent back four, not just for now but the future.”
OPINION
Alexander-Arnold, Gomez and Robertson are surely fixtures in the Liverpool team for years to come. The beauty is that they are not only mighty fine young players with the potential to become brilliant ones, but they are good enough for the starting XI right now. Alberto Moreno’s only hope of usurping Robertson is either injury or the inevitable squad rotation that will accompany an intense fixture list after the international break. At right-back, Alexander-Arnold is now the undisputed first choice and well ahead of Nathaniel Clyne, his fellow England international who has can’t get a look-in any more. Gomez rotated right-back with his fellow Liverpool youngster Alexander-Arnold last season, but has made such an impact at centre-back, it will be very difficult to Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip, the first choices in that position up until January, to force their way back into the starting XI.