BBC pundit Matthew Upson has hailed Joe Gomez as a “star” who is already one half of the outstanding centre-back pairing in the Premier League at Liverpool.
The former West Ham and Arsenal defender is convinced the blossoming partnership between Gomez and Virgil van Dijk is already on a higher plane to those at other top-flight clubs.
Upson explained what makes Gomez special and why his emergence this season spells bad news for senior duo Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip.
“Gomez and Virgil van Dijk have excelled for Liverpool this season and have all the skills needed to form a star partnership,” Match of the Day pundit Upson told the Times. “When you look at the other top sides — Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are particularly weak in this area — Liverpool have the best pairing.
“All good centre-back duos have abilities that complement the other. Liverpool have the physical dominance, experience and composure of Van Dijk, allied with the mobility and pace of Gomez, who himself is not short at more than 6ft.
“I can’t see Klopp changing the pair, even with Dejan Lovren and Joël Matip as options. Gomez may have started his career at full back — and can still fill in as he did late on in the win against Leicester City — but he is made to be a centre back.”
OPINION
Given Gomez is only 21 and has suffered some serious injuries during his four years at Liverpool, which have sidelined him for half that times, his development is way ahead of what most would have expected. He was rotated at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold last season after Nathaniel Clyne suffered a back injury that ruled him out for most of the campaign. Injuries to others has again handed Gomez a new opportunity this season, and he has seized it brilliantly. Centre-back makes different demands on a defender to full-back – there is more responsibility, for a start – but Gomez oozes class in that position and has made a huge impression in four Premier League starts this season. Liverpool have conceded only one goal, and that was due to Alisson’s circus act. There is no need for Klopp to rush Lovren and Matip back in, although the slew of imminent fixtures after the international break mean Liverpool will eventually have to rotate at centre-back.