OPINION
Joe Gomez is now fully fit after returning from a leg break which saw him miss the majority of Liverpool’s season and could be key for the Reds next season.
The England international featured 16 times for Liverpool in the Premier League this season, but missed the majority of the campaign as a result of a leg break which was sustained back in 2018.
According to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds are no longer looking to place all of their focus on signing enforcer Matthijs de Ligt, meaning Joe Gomez could well be back in contention for a place in the Liverpool starting eleven ahead of next season.
Gomez impressed in the first half of the Premier League season this year, and now looks like he could be more than just defensive backup going into the new season.
With de Ligt no longer looking likely to be making the switch to Anfield, Jurgen Klopp will be left with decisions to make regarding his centre-back partnerships next season, and Gomez will be well in contention to accompany Virgil Van Dijk alongside Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren.
Gomez is still only 21-year of age, and could be more of a long-term option for Klopp going forward in the Premier League, so long as he is able to replicate the form in which he showed at the start of the season.
It is already clear to see that Gomez may be preferred by Klopp over Lovren, who has registered three appearances less than the 21-year old in the Premier League this season despite Gomez suffering a long-term injury.
The 21-year old also managed to appear three times for England in the Nations League this season, showing that he can perform on the international stage too, which is a good trait to have for a Premier League centre back.
Either way, Klopp will have a difficult decision to make next season if Gomez stays fit but if he does give the defender playing time, he could prove to be key.
