Joe Gomez, who was starting at left defence, delivered yet another polished performance to help Liverpool advance to the League Cup final.
As he continues to develop into Liverpool’s most adaptable defender, capable of covering any position across the backline, the 26-year-old has started the team’s last eight games.
Gomez has played at left back for the majority of the previous three months since Robertson hurt his shoulder, having filled in for Trent Alexander-Arnold earlier in the season.
Kostas Tsimikas became even more important after breaking his collarbone, and Klopp has only been kind to Gomez.
“Nothing would have happened in the last pretty much 13 [or] 14 weeks since Robbo is out,” the manager stated.
A bold claim, but one that Klopp supported, stating, “[He] played exceptional today again.” He enters the game like a true defender and does so with great skill.
The manager went on, “To be honest, the fact that he was here and could play is a lifesaver.
“People tend to overlook Joey’s significance during our most prosperous years. I’m not sure how many games he participated in during the season in which we were crowned winners, but I’m sure that he did play a lot, as he is an elite player.
In the 2019–20 Premier League season, he made 28 appearances, and on the route to winning the 2019 Champions League, he played nine times.
Despite his outstanding defence play, Gomez has yet to score his first goal in his career, a task that appears to be getting closer to being accomplished each week.
“He tried a couple of times (vs. Fulham) obviously to finish the discussion about not scoring,” Klopp said in reference to his protracted scoring drought. From a little too far, in my opinion, but it’s still fine.
Gomez certainly took a few shots from outside the penalty area because Liverpool was feeling secure in their 3-1 aggregate advantage at Craven Cottage.
Given Gomez’s beneficial influence, Robertson’s upcoming homecoming might not be as simple for the Scot as anticipated.
