Ian Wright has hailed Joe Gomez for his ‘fantastic’ performance up against Erling Haaland during Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday at Anfield.
The 25-year-old has been one of those players that has been under fire for his performances this season, but yesterday, Wright thinks he was ‘brilliant’, as he told Premier League Productions (17/10/22 at 2:05 pm).
It wasn’t so long ago that Gomez was getting hauled off in Naples, as the Englishman, along with the Reds, produced their worst performance under Jurgen Klopp in the Champions League against Serie A flyers, Napoli – it was acknowledged by the German himself.
But in recent weeks, whether Gomez is playing at right-back filling in for the then-injured Trent Alexander-Arnold or at the heart of the defence, his form has started to pick up.
And against the Premier League champions, he just wasn’t back to his best, but Manchester United legend Gary Neville named him Man of the Match.
That praise from Neville was backed up by Arsenal legend Wright and how Klopp’s side put a ‘sting in the tail’ with yesterday’s performance and win.
“Liverpool, yes, it’s not started well for them but they put a sting in their tail because they still have a lot of quality in their side,” said Wright.
“Joe Gomez was brilliant yesterday. He was fantastic. Even though Erling Haaland could have scored two goals on his form, at the same time, Liverpool could have scored more – Joe has to take a lot of credit.”
GOMEZ SHOULD MAINTAIN HIS PLACE IN XI
Before a ball was kicked this season, Gomez was behind the club’s obvious number one Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip in the centre-back pecking order.
Whilst Konate has been the one to miss most of the action this season from the centre-backs because of injury, with Matip also on the sidelines, then it has helped push Gomez back into the XI.
And judging by his recent performances, he should maintain that spot, even if the other two return because, at the end of the day, it’s not like these Liverpool players have been putting up defensive masterclasses in recent months.
But, for the overall picture, this is a big three points for Klopp and his players – with West Ham and Nottingham Forest coming up this week – so, this abject start for the Reds could turn on its head.
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