Leeds United were strongly linked with multiple players during the summer window. Some of them look like smart decisions to have avoided right now.
United’s focus this week is building on their huge win over West Ham, looking to pick up a positive result away at Brighton.
They are buoyed by the fact they will have had an eight-day gap between games. Meanwhile, the Seagulls played on Wednesday in the EFL Cup with a relatively strong lineup, as Premier League sides fought to progress to the quarter-finals.
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Leeds United ‘target’ Joe Gomez has night to forget as Liverpool are dumped out by Crystal Palace
Liverpool hosted Crystal Palace last night with much-changed lineup. Included in the starting XI was a player ‘linked’ with Leeds during the summer window, Joe Gomez.
The centre-back was handed a rare start under Arne Slot after speculation linking him away, and he did little to justify his inclusion.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace ripped Liverpool open twice in the first half as Ismaila Sarr scored both. A weak tackle from Gomez gifted Sarr his opening for 1-0. Then, he was then dragged out of position by Eddie Nketiah to open up space for Sarr’s second.
Joe Gomez lunges as Ismaila Sarr scores a second for Crystal Palace against Liverpool. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)
The Eagles added polish to the result late on as Gomez’s pass into midfield was cut out, leading to Yeremy Pino slotting in a third.
Leeds United dodged a bullet not going for ‘easy’ Joe Gomez transfer link
It would have made sense at face value for Leeds to sign someone like Gomez. It would have been an easy player for the club to target.
Premier League experience, an England international, and capable of playing across the back four if needed. There are some things that you could justify when considering Gomez.
That being said, his injury record and then this performance tonight proves exactly why Leeds were right to have swerves this deal.
Arsenal (the best team in England right now) are the only side to cut open Leeds’ centre-backs this season. Palace ripped through Gomez and Liverpool’s resistance with ease. Fair enough they had a youthful side out, but Gomez did nothing to suggest he’d have been someone Leeds should have looked at.
“Tasked with organising this new-look back line, Liverpool’s longest-serving current player struggled, just as those he was deputising for have before him this season,” This Is Anfield wrote, giving Gomez a 3/10 rating.
“Slightly unfortunate deflection off him for the opening goal, but there was no commanding presence in the defence. Gomez needed to be it and wasn’t.”
Jaka Bijol came in from the cold and delivered a reasonably solid performance on his Premier League debut. It’s safe to say he was the right call to bring in over Gomez.
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