Joe Gomez began Liverpool's defeat at Galatasaray at right-back on Tuesday night
Joe Gomez has started three of Liverpool's last four games
Joe Gomez has started three of Liverpool's last four games(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
View Image
Joe Gomez has explained how Liverpool's raft of summer signings are aware of the importance of qualification for the Champions League with the season now in a "crunch period".
The Reds are in the middle of a run of seven games in 22 days that will shape the remainder of what has been a difficult campaign under Arne Slot.
They booked an FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester City with victory at Wolves last Friday, but have work to do to reach the last eight of the Champions League having lost their round of 16 first leg 1-0 at Galatasaray on Tuesday.
Slot's side will look to overturn that deficit in the return at Anfield next Wednesday, but first host struggling Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon having fallen three points off the top four.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page
And Gomez acknowledges missing out on next season's Champions League will have a major impact on the club and their evolving squad.
"We want to get Champions League football for next season," he said. "We know how big that is for the club. The FA Cup is still there to fight for. We have to beat big teams if we're going to win that.
"And we've still got the Champions League. We know how important this period is. The new lads understand the stakes as well. We have to stay together as a team and fight until the end.
"This is a crunch period. We're coming to the business end of the season and we'll do everything we can to make something out of it.
"We've under-performed at times. We're not where we want to be in the Premier League but we still have the chance to put things right."
Gomez began at right-back in Turkey and has started three of Liverpool's last four games having had a spell on the sidelines with a hip problem suffered when he collided with Alisson Becker in the defeat at Bournemouth in January.
The 28-year-old will be hopeful of making only a sixth Premier League start of the season at the weekend with Slot prepared to rotate his resources once more.
And Gomez said: "I just want to help the team wherever that will be, whether it's in the centre or at full-back.
"For me it's about getting rhythm and momentum. I want to play but as cliched as it sounds, it's always about what's best for the team.
"(The injury) was a knock on my hip. It was from the impact. If it had been anyone other than Ali I probably would have been okay! It was frustrating for me but you face some tough luck at times and you have to deal with it."
Gomez admits Liverpool were influenced by the loud atmosphere inside Galatasaray's Rams Park in midweek, with the home fans whistling whenever the Reds were in possession.
"It was a tough night," said the defender. "We started positively and created a couple of good chances early on but didn't take them and then suffered the blow of conceding from a set-piece.
"That gave them even more energy and fired up the atmosphere even more. We never really got it flowing again after that. But we have to take the positives. We still created a fair bit and I think it will be a different game at Anfield. It's only half-time in the tie.
"I don't think any of us would deny that it has an effect. It's hard. You can't hear each other, you can't hear the gaffer. It has an effect when it comes to being calm on the ball.
"They made it difficult for us but our fans can make it difficult for them too. We know what it's like to have that on your side and we'll have that next week."
Gomez was part of England's squad for the European Championships two years ago but hasn't been called up since either by subsequent interim head coach Lee Carsley or permanent boss Thomas Tuchel.
And ahead of this summer's World Cup, the Liverpool man said of Tuchel: "I haven't spoken to him. I am fully focused on Liverpool. This is everything for me.
"I know that performing here is the most important thing. What comes with that is just a bonus. I'm not worried about that to be honest."