Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is targeting increased development in the centre of the Reds defence, rather than at full back.
The 21-year-old turned in a stellar performance alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre half in the team’s 4-0 Premier League victory over West Ham United on Sunday, having made the majority of his Reds appearances to date from right back.
Now the England international has confirmed that he is looking to stay in the middle of the back four as opposed to his natural full back role.
“It’s somewhere I want to develop going forward,” he told the club’s official website. “I enjoy it. I know I can continue to learn and develop, and hopefully get more time there moving forward.
“Playing at full back gives you insight into what you want your centre half to do, position wise. I know which ball the full back doesn’t want sometimes. You can give them a square pass and it’s not the best to deal with.”
Gomez also spoke about his budding partnership with van Dijk: “Hopefully I can continue to learn and progress and he is obviously a good role model, by watching and trying to soak up everything. He is obviously a top, top player.”
OPINION
Competition for places is hotting up in the centre of the Liverpool defence. Van Dijk has nailed down one of the two spots, of course, but the slot alongside him is anyone’s for the taking. Gomez certainly did himself no harm with his performance against West Ham at the weekend, producing an assured display alongside the ever-calm Dutchman. He has the benefit of actually being fit at the moment, with Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip nursing injuries. Those two players will be the 21-year-old’s main competition for a starting berth this season, and it’ll be fascinating to see who comes out on top. Lovren, while often much maligned, was excellent once van Dijk arrived in January and he had a terrific World Cup, too. When everyone’s fully fit, the Croatian would still be the best best to start, but if Klopp has one eye on the future then he should persist with Gomez, whose best days are still very much ahead of him. This selection dilemma is a good problem for the German to have, and Reds supporters should be happy to see Gomez embracing whatever position his manager plays him in.
