Liverpool star gets SUDDEN chance to SAVE his Anfield career

After 19 games of almost flawless performances under Arne Slot, Liverpool are now at a point where they need to adapt if they're to keep their impressive run going.

The Reds have won 17 matches this season, leading the way in both the Premier League and Champions League, but they're now looking in the face of their first major piece of adversity.

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Ibrahima Konate has got a knee injury and is set to be out for the next five to six weeks, potentially missing 10 games across the winter period on the sidelines.

As such, Liverpool's defensive wall is set to lose one of its key personnel, with both Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah tipped to fill in during his absence.

For 26-year-old Gomez, this presents an invaluable opportunity to prove to Arne Slot and the fans just how important a player he is to this current Liverpool set-up.

Gomez's Liverpool journey so far

After just one professional season, playing for his boyhood club Charlton Athletic, 17-year-old Joe Gomez made the move to Anfield in the 2015-16 season for a transfer fee of £3.5million.

Buoyed by the move to the Premier League, so early into his career, he made his debut straight away, in Liverpool's opening game of the season, playing at left-back.

However, after an impressive start to his time on Merseyside, he suffered an ACL injury in October of that season, which ended his campaign after just a few months of appearances. It took him until January 2017 to make his return to the pitch

Now under the leadership of Jurgen Klopp, as opposed to the management of Brendan Rodgers back when he was injured, he was given the opportunity to play right-back, following an injury to Nathanial Clyne, and he took his opportunity by the scruff of the neck, establishing himself as a defensive asset.

Gomez contributes to trophy wins

A sustained ankle injury meant he missed the 2018 Champions League final, and in the 2018-19 season, he got his first opportunities at centre-back, pairing Virgil van Dijk in defence, before breaking his leg in the second half of the campaign - although he finally got to appear in a Champions League final in 2019.

Throughout the next few campaigns, Gomez was a useful player, who could fill in at any of the defensive positions, but he he was stuck behind Joel Matip in the pecking order.

When his chance came in the league-winning 2019-20 season, he took it with open arms, bringing solidity to Liverpool's efforts, playing alongside Van Dijk - a partnership many consider to be one of the best the Reds have had, despite it being short-lived.

Gomez went on to suffer a tendon injury in November 2020 and he was never able to slot straight back into the side.

Liverpool's 'quadruple' efforts in 2021-22 were in part because Gomez was able to support the full-back roles whenever he was required, and he continued that responsibility last season.

And that brings us to the present day, whereby 27-year-old Gomez, Liverpool's current longest-serving player - now in his 10th season with the Reds - cannot get a game.

Officially, he has played 264 minutes for Liverpool this season, predominantly because the team's full-back positions have two players for each role, and Arne Slot has fallen in love with the Van Dijk-Konate centre-back partnership.

But Konate is injured, meaning Gomez and Quansah have a huge opportunity to get their seasons back on track.

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Liverpool's season in the balance

Now that Liverpool have to make a change to their centre-backs, the likelihood that their form may change is high.

Konate has been magnificent in his efforts beside Van Dijk, and while both of his possible replacements are more than capable of filling in, the bar the Frenchman has set it high.

Quansah has a point to prove regarding his form and ability. Last season, he played with confidence and excelled in his breakthrough campaign under Klopp.

This season, having been rushed off at half-time against Ipswich in Liverpool's first game of the season, he has only featured on a few occasions, scoring an own goal against West Ham and creating a significant error against Brighton.

Meanwhile, Gomez has hardly put a foot wrong, besides just not being favoured by Slot - potentially because Quansah's development is that bit more important in the long term.

But Gomez is an experienced international player. He's played both full-back positions over the years, he's got clear evidence of form when partnered with Van Dijk, including Liverpool's last win over Manchester City - when the Reds snatched the game 1-0 at Anfield with a classic counter-attack from Mohamed Salah.

And that is why I think Slot will pick him on Sunday, experience matters, Quansah is low on confidence and form, and his ability to help Gomez this season is going to be key while Konate is sidelined.

But not against City, when you need a performance without weakness.

Liverpool's unsung cult hero

Ten years at a football club is unheard of, especially for a player who didn't grow up at the academy.

Even Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's homegrown right-back superstar hasn't made it to that landmark yet, and there is speculation while he is in the last season of his contract that he might move to Real Madrid to explore new surroundings.

But for Joe Gomez, Liverpool is where he wants to be. No discussion about it. Whether he plays or is left to sit on the bench, he is always happy to serve the club when he is required.

Now this isn't a slant on Trent, but it just shows how impressive it is for Gomez to still be kicking around Liverpool all those years later.

Just like how James Milner was during his time at the club, Gomez is a player who will sacrifice his preferences for the betterment of the team, and if you're looking for someone who is ready for the battle ahead in what will be a truly manic December, to keep Liverpool's title challenge going, then you couldn't ask for anyone better suited.

His contract runs until the summer of 2027, and that may well be the end of his time on Merseyside, but one of Liverpool's greatest ever servants has the opportunity to remind everyone just what he's capable of once again, and despite all the adversity he's gone through in his career, he remains an important asset to the club.

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