Many Liverpool supporters on social media revealed they were pleasantly surprised by defender Joe Gomez’s display against West Ham on Sunday.
The 21-year-old centre-back played 90 minutes against the Hammers as Jurgen Klopp’s side cruised to a 4-0 victory over them at Anfield and fans were quick to praise him for his latest performance.
One Reds supporter tweeted that they were slightly nervous about Gomez playing ahead of the game against Manuel Pellegrini’s side but claimed that they didn’t think the young defender put a foot wrong.
The centre-back, who currently earns £30,000-a-week at Anfield (Source: Total Sportek), played 31 times for the Reds across all competitions last season with the majority of his appearances being made as a right-back.
Live 4 Liverpool has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
https://twitter.com/TaylorPSport/status/1028647886358233088
Conspiracy Theory:
Lovren's injury story is made up as he's upset that he's been told Gomez is 2nd Choice CB for Liverpool this season.#LFC #LIVERPOOL #LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/iHJuPepeuM— Liverpoolzy* (@Liverpool_zy) August 12, 2018
Thrilled for a clean sheet. It’ll do wonders for Gomez’ confidence! It won’t hurt Alisson either, who wasn’t asked to do much but was helpful in buildup play from time to time. He’s a looming presence on the field and he scared little Arnautovic away #LFC #YNWA #Liverpool #Reds
— Nate Wilcox ?x19 (@LiverpoolTalker) August 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/BobbyKlopp/status/1028648537746235392
https://twitter.com/ProlificBobby/status/1028648635452596224
What a way to start the season, lads. Gini, Naby and Milner superb in midfield, Gomez looks at home next to Virgil, full backs were classy and creative, Alisson did nothing wrong, front 3 were irrereprisable in 3rd gear, goal from a sub and no injuries. Top of the league. #LFC
— TweetingTopRed (@tweetingtopred) August 12, 2018
Was slightly nervous about Gomez at CB today but he was quality. Didn’t put a foot wrong defensively, and started the attack well with his drives forward. #LFC
— JS (@SuperbSpearing) August 12, 2018
Good game, opposition a bit weak but most importantly is the game experience for Gomez!! All others good but so much talk of the CB and these are the kind of games to help him. A few moments with Arnautovic but came out well!! #LFC #Gomez
— Xoan (@redfan4ver) August 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/MikLFC/status/1028650610147708928
OPINION
It seems a lot Reds fans feared that Gomez wouldn’t be able to handle playing at centre-back against the Hammers on Sunday but were proven wrong. It’s easy to understand why one Reds supporter was nervous in particular as not only had the defender not played as a centre-back regularly last season but he was coming back off an injury that prematurely ended his 2017/18 campaign. However it seems the 21-year-old is eager to prove to anyone that he can do a job at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk if Klopp requires him to. As one fan tweeted there will be bigger tests ahead for Gomez this season as West Ham were woeful on Sunday but he does appear to have the skills in his locker to pass those tests with flying colours. The promising defender was unfazed to being playing at centre-back once again and could get more playing time then expected if he continues to submit good displays.
