Despite a possible start, Gomez faces an uncertain role
According to Paul Joyce from The timesJoe Gomez, like him, is at a crossroads “Has only played 43 minutes in the Premier League this season”where the reporter asked bluntly: “If the manager is not confident he can strengthen this defense, at a time of injuries, what is his role at the club?”
The long-serving defender could get a rare appearance on Wednesday due to the pressure on resources, but Joyce added a pointed concern: “He could play against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday… but will he be rewarded if he plays well?”
It’s a question that ties directly into a growing theme this season, with the 28-year-old limited to just seven appearances in all competitions, of which just two have been starts, both in the League Cup.
Considering we have previously seen him fill every role in the back four under Jurgen Klopp, his lack of opportunities under our current head coach is striking.
This was underlined when both Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones were deployed at right-back against Nottingham Forest, while Conor Bradley and Jeremy Frimpong were injured.
The situation becomes even more complicated when you consider that Gomez was recently described as “happy at Liverpool” as long as he plays.
But he’s not playing, and Wednesday could be a rare opportunity to remind the boss what he still has to offer us.
The right-back’s dilemma intensifies after Forest’s defeat
Calvin Ramsay is another option, and the Scotland full-back had reason to be disappointed after being overlooked this weekend.
His strong performance on his return to the senior side against Crystal Palace in the League Cup has already been highlighted by our head coach, who said the 22-year-old “calm on the ball” and showed “calm” on an otherwise difficult night.
That performance, described as “a reasonable to good game”suggested he ended up back in the fight.
Yet neither he nor Gomez were trusted to start against Forest, meaning Szoboszlai once again came on as a substitute rather than operating in the advanced roles in which he had flourished.
The figures from that 3-0 defeat only add to the inquiry, with Forest becoming only the fourth visiting side to win by three or more goals at Anfield in Premier League history.
Going into the PSV match, it is no longer just about rotation. It’s about trust, team hierarchy and whether Gomez still fits into the long-term plan.
If the former Charlton defender performs well but fails to keep his place, Joyce’s question will only become more urgent for us all.
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