Gomez: "We Had to Be Strong"

While he won’t be a regular starter at right back, Joe Gomez has the physicality and composure on the ball to be a bright part of Liverpool’s future. He’s part of a clutch of talented youngsters around the first-team squad that should be looking at being a regular member of the matchday squad over the next few seasons. It appears that Jürgen Klopp is the perfect manager for such opportunities down the line.

Gomez was part of a new-look Liverpool defence that included Ragnar Klavan, debutant Andrew Robertson otherwise known as the Scottish Aurelio, and the effortlessly unruffled Joël Matip. Klopp rotated with Hoffenheim and Arsenal to visit Anfield this week before the first international break of the season, and Gomez reflected on the the 50-year-old’s role in securing all three points.

"[The boss] knows how to get us going and keeps us positive – ‘come on, keep playing’," Gomez said. "We knew we had to keep our heads and not get frustrated, keep moving it and [the goal] would come. Eventually, it did. Then it was about us defending and seeing it out.

"It was very tough. They have great threats up front and their attacking force is very strong. We had to be strong. It was good for us to get the goal in the end and then see it out."

Gomez had to battle back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered on 13 October 2015 that kept him out for an entire year, a significant setback for an 18-year-old in his first season. Gomez only turned 20 in May, but it has not been easy for a young player to make such a strong early impression only to see chances to feature and develop obliterated by injury.

It was simply good to see Gomez start a Premier League game, see it through albeit at right back, and be part of a solid 1-0 victory.