Liverpool face West Ham United in the Premier League and many fans will hope that Joe Gomez starts.
Former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie is adamant that Joe Gomez must return to the starting line-up and add more balance to the back line.
The Reds’ longest-serving defender came off the bench in last Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Although head coach Arne Slot said that Gomez was fit enough to start at his pre-match press conference, having recently recovered from a hip issue, Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed as a makeshift right-back in the absence of Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley.
Curtis Jones was then moved into the position midway through the encounter before he was replaced by Gomez in the closing stages - helping make a difference as Alexis Mac Allister scored a 97th-minute winner.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Champions League qualification continues when they welcome West Ham United to Anfield on Saturday. Frimpong could be back in training although is unlikely to be ready to feature from the outset after a groin issue. And Gillespie is adamant that Gomez should feature in Slot’s XI.
Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast, Gillespie said: “For me, Joe Gomez has got to play right full-back. You look a far more balanced outfit with Joe Gomez at right full-back and then you have to make the decision on who plays in the middle of the park.But if you've got a right-back sitting on the bench, whether it's because he wants to protect Joe in regards to his injuries or not, I'm not 100 per cent sure.
“But if you're looking to play somebody at right full-back, play Joe Gomez. I think he might be of the mindset where he wants to ease Joe Gomez gradually. But I still think you've got to play him. We just look a better-balanced side.”
Gomez has had his well-documented injury problems in the past few years. Last season, he had a serious hamstring setback that required surgery. Former Liverpool captain and assistant manager Phil Thompson can understand why Slot is taking a cautious approach.
“I get the reason why [Slot's] not doing it. Joe has become so brittle that we wants to protect him. I think he wants to get him more minutes in training to build him up to try to see what he'e like,” said Thompson.
“I would imagine he wants to play Joe but he's thinking to himself that he's got to pick the right time for him. But the Dominik Szoboszlai thing, it was screaming for it. I'm not saying it was great but the change happened. Why? Because of the press.
“One of the first things that Szoboszlai did was close down, the keeper mishit it and we had our first opportunity. I get it with Joe but everybody would say quite easily that Joe should be playing at right-back. I get it with Joe. Hopefully, another full week of training, he'll maybe put himself in contention to start.”
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