Martin Keown has told Match of the Day 2 that Liverpool star Joe Gomez should be considered by Gareth Southgate for England’s Qatar World Cup squad if he continues in the way he played against Manchester City on Sunday.
Gomez, 25, was handed only his 16th Premier League start in the past three seasons against City. The Reds are without Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip, while Gomez has been operating at right-back – with Trent Alexander-Arnold injured.
But in a throwback to the 2019-20 season, Gomez started alongside Virgil van Dijk. The duo instantly struck up a connection, seeming to nullify and frustrate a Man City side boasting Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
Eventually, it was Mo Salah that grabbed the headlines with his brilliant turn on Joao Cancelo, and then one-on-one finish. But Keown reserved some praise for Gomez – saying he feels “empathy”, but thinks he should go to Qatar.
“I’ve got a lot of empathy for Gomez. Bad time with injury, he snapped his patella tendon, it takes two years to get back from that. He and van Dijk were really solid, really strong. With Haaland on 20 goals, you’ve got to snuff him out.
“They did that, excellent defending. He’s got the skill-set as well. Really organised, I like his pace, deals with balls into the channels. Southgate will be looking, he has to make it to the World Cup squad if he continues the way he played.”
Keown: Liverpool star Gomez should be considered by Southgate
Has he got a late chance? Without a doubt. England’s current options are hardly producing the form that will keep Gomez out. Everyone knows about Harry Maguire’s struggles, John Stones is in and out of his side through injury.
Tyrone Mings made another mistake on Sunday. Fikayo Tomori was sent off for Milan against Chelsea, and is playing in a lesser league. Conor Coady is impressing for Everton, Eric Dier for Tottenham. So, Gomez has a real chance.
If he can continually produce the form that he showed against Manchester City and specifically, Haaland between now and November – he has got to be on the plane. But everything has to go his way to win a ticket to Qatar.
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