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Garth Crooks praises Liverpool ace Joe Gomez with ‘rare quality’

Joe Gomez of Liverpool takes a throw in during the pre-season friendly match between Wigan Athletic and Liverpool at DW Stadium on July 14, 2017 in...
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Garth Crooks praises Liverpool defender Joe Gomez.

Joe Gomez of Liverpool takes a throw in during the pre-season friendly match between Wigan Athletic and Liverpool at DW Stadium on July 14, 2017 in Wigan, England.

Joe Gomez had an impressive game against Manchester United as he helped Liverpool keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw at Anfield.

Gomez, 20, starred in defence and helped United look lacklustre, while earning praise for his own performance from fans and pundits alike.

Garth Crooks was among those who hailed Gomez’s effort, selecting him in his BBC Team of the Week.

Marcus Rashford of Manchester United and Joe Gomez of Liverpool battle for possession during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 14, 2017...

But there was an element of sarcasm in Crooks’ comments about Gomez and his contribution, as he joked about the club’s poor defence.

He said: “This is a young, versatile English player who can play as a full-back or in central defence. What I like about him is he can actually defend, which is a rare quality in Liverpool’s defence these days.

“He saw off Anthony Martial and later gave Marcus Rashford something to think about in a game in which Liverpool were allowed to dominate the play.”

Athletic's Spanish striker Asier Villalibre (L) vies with Liverpool's English defender Joe Gomez during the pre-season friendly football match between Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool at...

Liverpool’s defence has been the subject of criticism all season, so it will mean a lot to the Reds to keep a clean sheet in such a high profile game.

Manchester United have rightly been getting criticised for their lack of ambition at Anfield, but Gomez deserves his hard-earned plaudits.

His performance was the result of weeks of gradual improvement, and it looks like he is getting back to his best after suffering a serious knee injury in his debut season at Anfield back in late 2015.