It doesn’t require a huge leap of imagination to picture Joe Gomez helping Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge
With Newcastle United looking to swiftly raise funds during the summer, Gomez was close to switching to Tyneside
after the Magpies pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute, the centre-back instead found himself having to once again scrap his way back up the pecking order at Anfield.
rather than being part of the Newcastle side that beat title contenders Arsenal on Saturday, Gomez stepped off the Liverpoolbench at half-time to replace the stricken Ibrahima Konate
For skipper Virgil van Dijk, it was a further example of why every player needs to be primed to produce when they are called upon.
Van Dijk
“I think that of all of the guys that came on,”
“Wata (Endo) was outstanding, Curtis (Jones) got an assist and was outstanding. That’s the message to everyone. Everyone has to come on and try to make an impact in a good way.
“With Joe, I know obviously that he came from an interesting summer, but the way he has been on and off the pitch is remarkable. He’s so respected within the club and the team.
“He’s a fantastic player and he showed it again, he showed it in my opinion already in the League Cup game, and whenever he is needed or whenever he starts he needs to be ready like the rest of the guys.
“On Saturday especially he was outstanding.”
Certainly, it hasn’t been easy for Gomez this season.
After the collapse of the Newcastle deal, he failed to make even the squad for the Premier League opener at Ipswich Town and, until Saturday, had been restricted in the top flight to just two brief cameos.
Gomez made the most of his start in the 3-2 League Cup win at Brighton in midweek to be the one Slot called upon on Saturday
Recalling Gomez’s tough start to the campaign,
Van Dijk says: “It was in a different situation and the club wanted to make different decisions but he is here, he is a big important member of our team, not only on the pitch like I said but off it as well as he’s one of the experienced guys and he showed it as well with how he is in training and within the squad.”
Liverpool were fortunate to be only one goal behind against an excellent Brighton on Saturday
as at the Emirates, the Reds were revived after the restart, with two goals inside three minutes from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah transforming the match as the visitors were engulfed by a hostile and vibrant Anfield atmosphere.
Van Dijk admitted
“Luckily a game is 90 minutes and the second half saw a completely different Liverpool,”
“I think even before the game I think there were certain moments that gave a sign to the fans that we need them even more than ever.
“But it starts with ourselves. It starts with us setting the place on fire, if you want to call it that.
“The first challenge that you win, the press, the chances that you create. Obviously the (first) goal helps massively but I think it already started before then.
“The press wasn’t good first half, the energy wasn’t good, in possession we didn’t have many problems in my opinion but we were sloppy.
“We couldn’t get near them, we were sloppy in the challenges first half.
“Second half totally different - the energy levels, the press, the right decisions that we made and the goals we scored.”
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