Joe Gomez On His Liverpool Future

The young Joe Gomez has had an interesting run with the Liverpool first team. Before and after his season-ending injury stint, he’s been deployed chiefly on the wings by both Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp.

Gomez made no secret of the fact that his preferred position is at centre-back. The England international spoke about his Liverpool future and how Klopp encouraged him to stay and fight for a place in the starting XI.

“Ideally I want to end up as a centre-back,” Gomez said. “That’s where I think I can progress the most and develop to be the best I can be.

“But I enjoy playing at full back and it’s helped me with my development to this point. For me being a young player getting regular games, regardless of the position, I’m just happy to be able to learn. But I do see myself moving inside towards centre-half and hopefully playing most of my career there.”

Regarding whether Klopp shared his view of his future, Gomez seemed positive.

“Yes, I believe so. I think with injuries opportunities have come to play at full back.

“But while I’m here I will just focus on wherever the manager wants me to play. I’m happy to play wherever, whether it’s full back or centre-half. I will adapt to whatever he wants and I’m happy to do so.”

After missing 15-months with an unfortunate injury, Gomez had a thought to take another loan move this season. However, it was Klopp who changed his mind.

“It was in the back of my mind that I could potentially go out on loan if I didn’t see things going the way I wanted them to go.

“But the manager gave me the belief that I could work my way into the team.

“I’m thankful that it feels like the right decision to stay and work for my place.

“I was aware that I could go out on loan because I went a year without regular football, but thankfully I got that at my club.”

Gomez has taken the opportunity presented by Liverpool’s lean defense to make his mark early in this season. With Nathaniel Clyne out through the end of the year, and with Liverpool’s schedule about to get very hectic, there will no doubt be more chances to prove himself in the coming few months.