Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could be forced into making a surprise selection at left-back following Andy Robertson’s shoulder injury. Robertson could be set for months on the sidelines and Joe Gomez may get his chance in a position he hasn’t played since early in his career at Anfield.
Gomez has often been a bit-part player at Liverpool. Injuries have seen him demoted to fourth-choice centre-back in recent seasons.
The 26-year-old has often filled in at right-back in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. But a spot on the left of defence could be up for grabs in the coming matches.
Robertson suffered a dislocated shoulder while on international duty with Scotland. Liverpool are set to assess the extent of the injury but it is feared he could miss up to four months of action.
Kostas Tsimikas is the direct replacement for Robertson and is set to start Saturday’s Merseyside derby at home to Everton. But Liverpool have a busy schedule, with seven matches in the space of 22 days across three different competitions.
Tsimikas can’t be expected to come in and play every single game and Klopp needs a contingency plan in case he suffers an injury of his own. Gomez could be the player who provides him with that.
Gomez joined Liverpool from Charlton in the summer of 2015. His spell at the club started at left-back, with Brendan Rodgers picking him in that position in the first five Premier League matches of the 2015/16 season.
Rodgers had Alberto Moreno fit and available but chose to give Gomez a chance in a position he was not used to. He has rarely played at left-back in the eight years since but Klopp is a big fan and may have to call on him to help lessen the burden on Tsimikas.
That would enable Klopp to continue with Joel Matip and Jarrell Quansah as his backups in the middle of defence, with Gomez offering support in both full-back positions. Klopp previously lavished praise on Gomez after he signed a new five-year contract last year and backed him to be a big part of the club’s future.
Klopp told the Liverpool website: “Joe is an outstanding talent. He is also an outstanding defender and an outstanding human being. He has so many qualities, I could talk about them all day.
“So knowing that he will continue his journey with us is a massive boost – one that everyone who loves Liverpool FC and cares about its present and future should be unbelievably happy about. One of the many wonderful things about Joe is he has experience and youth – that’s not a bad combination.”
