Joe Gomez’s Liverpool resurgence surely ends Brendan Rodgers’ hopes of Celtic reunion

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Brendan Rodgers has been tipped to make a move for Liverpool youngster Joe Gomez ever since taking over at Celtic.

Almost two years after a cruelly-timed cruciate ligament injury stopped his burgeoning Liverpool career in its tracks, Joe Gomez put in arguably his most impressive performance for the Reds since moving from Charlton Athletic as an unknown teenager in 2015.

Gomez returned after 15 months on the sidelines in January but it is only now, at the start of the 2017/18 season, that the talented defender is starting to force his way back into Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans.

And that faultless display against Arsenal was certainly worth the wait. Gomez subdued an admittedly semi-fit Alexis Sanchez with ease while combining perfect positional sense with a real attacking intent and purpose in possession.

Although the headlines were rightly dominated by Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and the imperious Emre Can, Gomez was one of the best players on the pitch from right-back and even provided the cross to set up Roberto Firmino’s opener in the 4-0 thrashing.

Therefore, with Nathanial Clyne still on the sidelines, the 20-year-old now looks well-placed to battle fellow youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold for a place in Klopp’s back four.

Opportunity missed?

Consequently, any hope former Reds manager Brendan Rodgers might have harboured of a reunion with a player he paid £3.5 million for in 2015 (BBC) looks all but over.

Rodgers wasted no time putting Gomez directly into his starting XI when bringing him from Charlton, such was his belief in the teenager’s potential. And, ever since the Northern Irishman took charge of Celtic last summer, he has been tipped to make a move for the England youth international.

The Sun claim that Celtic were interested this summer. And with the Scottish champions rueing their failure to add another defender to their ranks in the transfer window, the versatile Gomez would no doubt be a welcome addition.

However, with his reputation on the rise at Liverpool and Klopp seemingly won over at last, it appears that a reunion with Rodgers is off the cards for good.