Liverpool have seen a brand new utility man emerge in Jurgen Klopp‘s squad this season, with Joe Gomez doubtlessly fixing an issue within the switch market.
Professional tip for anybody enthusiastic about writing for This Is Anfield: strive to not write one thing primarily based on a tweet.
I made an exception for this explicit tweet:
Klopp: “Sure we have now quite a lot of gamers out however don’t fear, I’ve a plan”
The plan: pic.twitter.com/mS1ILvgGIV
— Raws (@Raws_FUT) January 10, 2024
Joe Gomez has not simply been excellent this season, he’s seemingly been in every single place.
He’s made 27 appearances in all competitions up to now this season – since signing in 2015, he’s solely bettered that tally 3 times – and it’s nonetheless solely January.
The 26-year-old has acquired quite a lot of criticism at instances in his Liverpool profession, having didn’t constantly present his finest kind, notably after critical harm.
However this marketing campaign, he’s working at his finest degree once more – and crucially, doing so in a number of positions.
Centre-back
Regardless of being a centre-back by commerce, Gomez has featured there simply 3 times up to now this season.
He rose from the bench to play his half within the comeback win over Newcastle after Virgil van Dijk‘s dismissal, excelled within the 3-0 demolition of Aston Villa, and got here in for Van Dijk once more within the Europa League defeat of Toulouse.
Within the latter recreation, he was remembered extra for his help after switching to a full-back position late on.
Nonetheless, in all three video games Liverpool emerged victorious, and Gomez was faultless in all three.
The imperiousness of Van Dijk, the resurgence of Joel Matip and the sturdy tactical match for Ibrahima Konate in Liverpool’s system have disadvantaged Gomez of minutes in his most popular place at instances this season.
However he has confirmed, notably within the recreation towards Villa, that he can nonetheless provide lots as an possibility there.
Liverpool’s success that day was constructed on an aggressive excessive press which wanted a excessive defensive position to maintain it. Gomez’s tempo and studying of the sport was key to that.
He additionally made a superb intervention at 2-0, studying a run to the close to submit to disclaim Leon Bailey a aim that may have invited Villa again into the sport.
Elbow again
The position of the ‘elbow again’ has change into mainstream in recent times.
It refers back to the observe of deploying a central defender as a full-back, and tasking them with forming a situational again three.
This permits the alternative full-back to get forwards, creating an asymmetrical construction that opponents discover tougher to take care of.
It’s additionally a results of groups in search of larger safety within the final line of defence.
As video games get faster and extra bodily, the counter-attacking menace of each workforce has improved, which means Liverpool should ‘hold the again door locked’ irrespective of who their opponent is.
This profile of defender was checked out in the summertime switch window, however with no such signing made, Gomez is the clearest match inside the squad.
He was duly deployed there for the go to to Luton, who regarded to counter in large areas after which rain crosses into the field.
Gomez’ peak was helpful at set-pieces, whereas he additionally stepped throughout to cowl properly early within the second half when Carlton Morris regarded sure to attain.
Nonetheless, the character of the sport – with Liverpool breaking down a low block and Luton countering – led to Gomez venturing forwards to carry width anyway.
Jurgen Klopp due to this fact changed him with the extra naturally adventurous Kostas Tsimikas, although Liverpool in the end dropped a irritating two factors.
Full-back
It has been full-back the place Gomez has really shone.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold more and more getting into midfield, an overlapping full-back has been one thing of a plan B at instances.
Within the vice-captain’s absence, Gomez was requested to invert from right-back within the first half towards Wolves, and regarded uncomfortable at instances.
After the break, Liverpool switched to a extra acquainted form, with Gomez and left-back Andy Robertson flying forwards down the wings.
The end result was a 3-1 win, and whereas Robertson took the headlines with a superb aim, Gomez additionally regarded glorious in each assault and defence on the suitable.
Since being an unused substitute on the Etihad in November, Gomez has featured as a right-back or left-back in each Premier League recreation.
His cameo on the suitable freed up Alexander-Arnold to seal the comeback win over Fulham, and his introduction at 1-0 down vs. Crystal Palace additionally contributed to a dramatic 2-1 victory.
However the true worth of Gomez has been seen at left-back.
He changed the injured Tsimikas throughout the 1-1 draw with Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka failing to finish a single take-on towards Gomez within the remaining 55 minutes.
However this was no elbow again efficiency; Gomez additionally got here closest to a winner with a superb run and curling effort that whistled previous the submit.
Gomez has maintained the position in wins over Burnley, Newcastle and Arsenal (once more), combining his defensive metal with an added attacking menace that has seen the subject of his long-awaited first senior aim start to dominate the information cycle.
Liverpool’s Swiss Military knife
Regardless of topping the league desk and having its finest defence, Liverpool’s rearguard is a subject of fixed debate.
Alexander-Arnold’s migration into midfield has raised requires a brand new attacking right-back, though the emergence of Conor Bradley in current weeks could have an affect on that.
Jarell Quansah has had a meteoric rise this season, however with Joel Matip out of contract this summer time, defensive reinforcements are craved amongst many supporters.
The rise of the elbow again has seen Liverpool linked with a number of versatile left-footed defenders, and the switch market is open.
And regardless of stepping up previous to his harm, some have felt an improve on Kostas Tsimikas to be crucial within the close to future.
Due to Joe Gomez, nevertheless, Liverpool at present have glorious cowl in every of those many roles.
Liverpool’s new Swiss Military knife could not be capable to play in every single place abruptly.
However his means to play anyplace within the again line provides Liverpool a variety of choices for the remainder of the season, and for his or her switch planning going forwards.
