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Publication Date: Saturday, November 7, 2020 1:04 AM
Jurgen Klopp has been impressed with the way Joe Gomez has approached the plate to fill the void left by Liverpool’s great absentees.
Injuries to Virgil Van Dijk, Joel matip Y Fabinho left the 23-year-old like the Reds only recognized center-back of the first team.
The former Charlton player has been excellent at the heart of the rear, starting five Premier League games for the Reds. The England star has also helped guide inexperienced pair Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips through matches.
Since losing to Van Dijk in the Merseyside derby on October 17, Klopp’s side have conceded just two goals in five games. One of them was a penalty and the four in the back seem to have shrugged off the loss of their main man.
Gomez will make his 100th appearance in the league at Manchester City Sunday and Klopp believes he still has more to offer.
“He’s still young, such an impressive number, an impressive boy. Very good, very good, ”he said. “He came here before me, so he’s here even longer than me. He played as a left-back, he played as a right-back, when Brendan (Rodgers) played with three behind, different positions.
How many different partners? He played along with Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel, all these guys, then Dejan Lovren, Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip.
“So he had so many different partners, but he was always the kid in line and that changed now obviously completely.”
Gomez takes his chance
There was a collective groan around Anfield as it hit Van Dijk’s injury. Questions remained as to whether they would be able to cope with the loss of such an important player.
Back-to-back wins see the Merseysiders second, but with a chance to usurp surprise leader Southampton this weekend.
Klopp believes the most impressive aspect of Gomez’s rise has been the way he has adapted so quickly.
“And how everyone (has to) do it in life, we have to grow up in situations like this and he did that,” he added. “He used the last few weeks obviously, more or less thrown into the cold water if you want, and he used them very well.
“He did really well and I’m very happy for the performances he did. Obviously, very important to us.”
Matip may well be back for him short trip to the Etihad after missing five games. He was an unused substitute in the midweek Champions League win over Atalanta after returning to form.
It would be another advantage for the champions who have now left behind their 7-2 beating at Aston Villa.
READ MORE: Klopp praises Sakho’s major failure and ‘never saw a problem’
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