Joe Gomez on Competition in the Liverpool Squad: Everyone Wants to Play

It’s been a strange season for Joe Gomez.

For some time, it looked like he was well off the pace, second fiddle to Joël Matip and then even Dejan Lovren. Then injuries open up a spot for him and he just really delivers, looking right back to his best. He’s been open about fighting for his place in the side recently.

“I think if you asked everyone in the dressing room they all have that desire to play every game and I think that is what is important for us in this team”, Gomez told Sky Sports.

“There is a real hunger and you feel it. There is no, ‘Oh I want to play this game and chill that one’.

”I think that shows and that is why when everyone comes in, the lads are playing well. They are really participating and helping the team.

“For me, I love every derby and it is a special game, every time”, he said of today’s FA Cup tie with Everton. “Regardless of whether it is a Premier League game or not, we go into it looking to win and I think that is self-explanatory.

”That is something that we look forward to and whatever will be will be. Everyone wants to play.

”There is no telling what the gaffer will do but we are used to the quick turnaround now. At the same time, we want to win things, and it is the Merseyside derby and we never want to lose that.”

“I think you have that in mind whenever a team changes their gaffer,” he went on to explain, alluding to Everton’s hiring of Carlo Ancelotti.

”You look the other day with West Ham (who won after reappointing David Moyes), there is that instant spark and we have to be ready for that.

“I don’t think we go into any game underestimating anyone but we know that they will be up for it.

”They have got a top manager and we have to be ready for that. They have good individuals and top players and they are a threat. We know that.”