Liverpool’s summer business in 2015 was largely successful. With Bobby Firmino, Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner all being notable arrivals in Brendan Rodgers’ last transfer window.
One signing that went under the radar but has since been a huge bargain, was the arrival of a young full-back called, Joe Gomez. The 18-year-old joined the club from Charlton Athletic, and was a tall, lanky right-back.
Over the course of his developmental years, Joe started to fill out his tall frame, becoming more and more like a centre back.
From the start of the 2018/19 season, through to midway through the title winning, 2019/20 season, Gomez was a regular starter alongside Virgil van Dijk, rotating with Joel Matip.
When Injury struck in a game against Burnley, it looked to be the end of a very promising season for Gomez.
That was the case, however, it has also been the end of Joe Gomez’s days as a regular Starting XI member. Often deployed at both full-back positions, Gomez has become accustomed to his role in the LFC squad.
With the Injury to Ibou, Slot used Gomez at centre-back over the promising Jarell Quansah, who only got his second appearance in the league on Sunday evening.
Play Style
In Konate, Liverpool have a bruising, proactive, wall of a defender, someone who likes to come of the defensive line to make tackles, interceptions and force pressure.
On the other hand, Virgil van Dijk is a nonchalant, smooth operator, who is often reactive and calm to a situation but proactive when needs be.
Joe Gomez often offers the same skillset of Virg, calm and collected, which can work, but with the teams, and more specifically, van Dijk’s familiarity of Ibou’s play style and his ability in 1v1’s, it may have small niggles along the way. Overall I do thoroughly believe that this team will chug along without a hitch.
Physical Attributes
Something which sets Ibou apart from a lot of modern day defenders is his play style, but another aspect is his freakish athletic talent.
Konate is 6 foot 4 inches and is built like a truck. He has reached speeds of 33.8 km/h, or 20.5 mph, in this season’s Champions League. These athletic attributes aren’t easily replaceable but in Joe Gomez, Arne Slot probably has the next best thing.
Standing at 6 foot 2 inches, he is only 2 inches smaller and has clocked in a top speed of 32.24 km/h, or 20 mph.
These differences will not cause too many problems, and with Virgil van Dijk next to you never have to worry too much.
When all is said and done, Gomez has shown time and again that he is more than capable to slot in at any position across the back line and this is no different, with his former partner and now captain van Dijk next to him and the safe hands of Kelleher or Alisson behind him there should be no major worries for Slot or us, the fans.