Forgotten stars who came from nowhere after January rumours

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is not alone in barely playing this season before establishing himself as a crucial starter in the closing weeks.

Joe Gomez

Not by his manager, of course. “There are tougher things than being a squad player at the moment for Liverpool,” Klopp noted after running down Gomez’s half-decade list of issues, from a torn ACL in his right knee to a ruptured patella tendon in his left, with Achilles problems, ankle surgery and Covid in between. “The only answer in football is you have to fight through and show you are ready for the moment when the situation changes,” Klopp added; “fight” is certainly not something Gomez has lacked at Liverpool.

But it has taken time for said situation to change. An uncharacteristically resolute Joel Matip and the signing of Ibrahima Konate, who remains unbeaten at Liverpool, has left the club with an embarrassment of central defensive riches in comparison to last year’s relative poverty. Gomez made four starts before the turn of the year: against Milan and then in the first three rounds of the League Cup.

That generated interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle yet Gomez heeded his manager’s advice, preparing for a chance that was unknown but inevitable with the rotation required to compete on four fronts. Alexander-Arnold’s recent absence has afforded an opportunity at right-back and while an average performance in victory over Norwich was understandable, Gomez put in a display – and delivery for Diogo Jota’s goal – worthy of the position against Watford. Klopp and Liverpool will need him.

Nathan Ake

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