Liverpool star Joe Gomez recalls how he was inspired by Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand

Joe Gomez says he admired the boy from South East London, Rio Ferdinand, when he was young.

Liverpool midfielder Gomez, who was born in Catford, is about to emulate Peckham’s boy Ferdinand to become a Premier League winner when the season resumes.

Gomez was just five years old when Ferdinand made his record move from Leeds to Manchester United in 2002, but by the time the England international with an 81-point cutoff left for Queens Park Rangers 12 years later, Gomez was about to make his professional debut with Charlton Atlético.

A year later, a £ 3.5 million move moved to Liverpool, and having overcome injury problems, Gomez has established himself as Virgil van Dijk’s first-choice partner on the Reds’ back.

However, he still remembers the influence of Fernando.

“I think when he was a teenager he admired that pedigree of football, football in the Premier League and England, and he was a first-rate midfielder,” Gomez said. Sky Sports.

“I think that also being from South East London was something else that made me admire him.”

“He is definitely one of those I admired, and his style of play is something I liked and aspired to be.”

“As a kid, he was definitely a great inspiration.”

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Gomez and Van Dijk have become Jurgen Klopp’s preferred defensive duo, and he says he is learning from the Dutch.

“Virgil is an incredible influence for me and for someone I can admire.”

“It has no flaws whatsoever.

“For me it’s just about learning and developing the things that I can improve on, and obviously my goal is to be there and try to be the best that Liverpool can be, hopefully for a long time.”