Liverpool: Klopp will give £16m star 'opportunities' at Anfield

Liverpool should not be considering the future of centre-back Joe Gomez despite his poor run of form, with Aston Villa previously targeting the 25-year-old, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were humbled 4-1 by Napoli in their first game of another Champions League campaign on Wednesday as their slow start to the 2022-23 season continued.

According to Football Insider, Villa manager Steven Gerrard made the Liverpool ace his number one target for the summer transfer window.

The report states that the Midlands side also made a move for Gomez in January but failed as Klopp was unwilling to do business mid-season.

But after making just three Premier League starts in the 2021-22 campaign, it was perhaps not an unrealistic plan from Gerrard.

However, Gomez put any rumours of a departure to bed in July when he signed a new five-year contract at Anfield.

The 11-cap England international later commented on the links with Villa, saying he understood why the rumours emerged, adding that any interest is always ‘flattering’.

But Wednesday night saw the £16m-rated man struggle with the pace of Champions League football, as the Reds were put to the sword in Naples.

Jones says that, even though Gomez is out of form, Liverpool’s stance on the player should not have changed.

The journalist adds that Klopp simply cannot afford to be considering selling the defender, particularly at a time when he is already hindered by a number of player issues.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I think Gomez will be given opportunities to overcome this moment. You can’t start in a Champions League match and then suddenly disappear. Obviously, there’s been transfer talk around him but the last thing that Liverpool can be doing at the moment is