[article]Steve McManaman has admitted he would be "gutted" were Joe Gomez to leave Liverpool in January or at the end of the current season.
The 26-year-old has been a key performer in Jurgen Klopp's side this term, featuring in various positions across the backline, and has seen regular opportunities arise as a result of injuries to Andy Robertson, Joel Matip and Kostas Tsimikas.
So often in the past it has been Gomez on the treatment table with a long-term setback, though the 2019 Champions League winner is now the player Liverpool are relying on at a time of need.
Such is the character of the versatile defender, Gomez is quietly going about his business - not that this should come as a surprise to supporters. Never one to hit the headlines for his performances, McManaman believes the Reds' No.2 is someone who is not appreciated in the same way as other members of Klopp's star-studded squad.
"I think he is a quiet lad, who has had terrible injuries in the past. Because he is not screaming out of magazines, doing photoshoots and being prolific on social media, he is underrated," the former Liverpool midfielder told the ECHO.
"The modern-day footballer seems to be everywhere. Joe goes about his business in the right way all the time and is an exceptional professional. He has played right-back, left-back and centre-back. When Jurgen wants him to play right-back to move into midfield, he does it even though he is not as comfortable with that as Trent. He gets on with the game and I think he is a superstar. There are times where he might have a bad game, like anyone else.
"I wouldn’t like him to go anywhere else," continued McManaman. "If he wants to play every single game, that’s a problem. It is probably to his detriment that he can play three or four different positions as, when you do that, people start thinking you can do everything. He can play left-back, but not as well as Andy Robertson. Robertson is left-footed and wants to get forward more. That’s not Joe’s fault. He is a great defender and always does an incredible job for Liverpool.
"I would be gutted if he left because people like Gomez are absolutely priceless to you at a football club. If you go back to Real Madrid, they’ve got Lucas Vasquez and Nacho, who have both been at the club for over ten years. If you speak to any of their team-mates about what they think of them, they adore them. That’s why they’re still there. Teams need players like that and they are just as important as the superstars."
Gomez has made a total of 24 first-team appearances for Liverpool this season, which has seen various demands placed on the centre-back. Assisting with the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield plan, the Charlton Athletic academy graduate has at times starred at right-back to allow Alexander-Arnold to remain in central areas.
The success of this switch came to the fore during the Reds' 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace earlier this month when Gomez was introduced at half-time, occupying the right flank to allow Alexander-Arnold to flourish further up the pitch. On whether this is an approach Klopp should deploy from the start of games as opposed to midway through encounters, McManaman added: "I personally think Trent should start at right-back as that means you get another midfielder into the team.
"If Liverpool dominate possession, Trent will always move into midfield anyway and make it four guys in there. If Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch play and Liverpool are dominating, Trent will go into midfield anyway and push Mac Allister on. I’ve got no problem with how Liverpool set up. If Trent goes and plays in midfield, where will Gomez go when Liverpool are controlling games? He would end up sitting on Trent’s shoulders. The current system works. Trent plays as a midfielder most games, regardless of if he sets up at right-back.”[/article]
The 26-year-old has been a key performer in Jurgen Klopp's side this term, featuring in various positions across the backline, and has seen regular opportunities arise as a result of injuries to Andy Robertson, Joel Matip and Kostas Tsimikas.
So often in the past it has been Gomez on the treatment table with a long-term setback, though the 2019 Champions League winner is now the player Liverpool are relying on at a time of need.
Such is the character of the versatile defender, Gomez is quietly going about his business - not that this should come as a surprise to supporters. Never one to hit the headlines for his performances, McManaman believes the Reds' No.2 is someone who is not appreciated in the same way as other members of Klopp's star-studded squad.
"I think he is a quiet lad, who has had terrible injuries in the past. Because he is not screaming out of magazines, doing photoshoots and being prolific on social media, he is underrated," the former Liverpool midfielder told the ECHO.
"The modern-day footballer seems to be everywhere. Joe goes about his business in the right way all the time and is an exceptional professional. He has played right-back, left-back and centre-back. When Jurgen wants him to play right-back to move into midfield, he does it even though he is not as comfortable with that as Trent. He gets on with the game and I think he is a superstar. There are times where he might have a bad game, like anyone else.
"I wouldn’t like him to go anywhere else," continued McManaman. "If he wants to play every single game, that’s a problem. It is probably to his detriment that he can play three or four different positions as, when you do that, people start thinking you can do everything. He can play left-back, but not as well as Andy Robertson. Robertson is left-footed and wants to get forward more. That’s not Joe’s fault. He is a great defender and always does an incredible job for Liverpool.
"I would be gutted if he left because people like Gomez are absolutely priceless to you at a football club. If you go back to Real Madrid, they’ve got Lucas Vasquez and Nacho, who have both been at the club for over ten years. If you speak to any of their team-mates about what they think of them, they adore them. That’s why they’re still there. Teams need players like that and they are just as important as the superstars."
Gomez has made a total of 24 first-team appearances for Liverpool this season, which has seen various demands placed on the centre-back. Assisting with the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield plan, the Charlton Athletic academy graduate has at times starred at right-back to allow Alexander-Arnold to remain in central areas.
The success of this switch came to the fore during the Reds' 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace earlier this month when Gomez was introduced at half-time, occupying the right flank to allow Alexander-Arnold to flourish further up the pitch. On whether this is an approach Klopp should deploy from the start of games as opposed to midway through encounters, McManaman added: "I personally think Trent should start at right-back as that means you get another midfielder into the team.
"If Liverpool dominate possession, Trent will always move into midfield anyway and make it four guys in there. If Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch play and Liverpool are dominating, Trent will go into midfield anyway and push Mac Allister on. I’ve got no problem with how Liverpool set up. If Trent goes and plays in midfield, where will Gomez go when Liverpool are controlling games? He would end up sitting on Trent’s shoulders. The current system works. Trent plays as a midfielder most games, regardless of if he sets up at right-back.”[/article]
