Liverpool vs Genk: Joe Gomez is not the solution any more
Joe Gomez is clearly not the solution for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp at right-back after he was snubbed against Genk in the Champions League.
We all thought Gomez would be the man to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold after the latter missed out due to a virus, but Klopp pulled the wool over our eyes with the selection of James Milner.
With Jordan Henderson not picked and the need to give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita minutes following their slow reintroduction to the first team, the only way to get Milner’s experience and leadership skills into the side was to play him at right-back.
After Klopp decided that Andrew Robertson had to start, that was the place Milly had to take, which the manager explained in his post-match press conference – which the club posted to YouTube.
‘In the way we wanted to play it was clear Milner was the number one solution for that moment’, said the German after he was asked why the former Manchester City man was picked ahead of Joe Gomez.
Liverpool wanted to change things around as little as possible, continued the gaffer, and picking James Milner ahead of Joe was one of the ways the coaching staff could do that.
But, Klopp did manage to throw a few compliments the way of the youngster and said ‘he looked confident and it was good. It (the selection) was nothing against Joe.’
This shows the manager’s thought process regarding the second choice decision for right-back, an area that Liverpool don’t have a natural alternative to Alexander-Arnold. Earlier in his career, Gomez did spend time on the flanks but being dumped below a central midfielder in the pecking order shows he isn’t a solution at right-back.
All that is worrying because the former Charlton man has dipped below Dejan Lovren in the center-back order and doesn’t look primed to pick up a lot of minutes as the season continues.
Next. Oxlade-Chamberlain scorches but Milner exposed! Read our player ratings against Genk here. dark
But he is still young and central defenders don’t often mature until longer. Klopp likes the player and this should keep us relaxed for the time being.