It's been hard on me Liverpool This season, adapting to life underneath Arnie slot.
It's hard to watch someone succeed so dramatically Jurgen KloppHis seat anyway. It's a shame, you see, because Klopp was almost legendary in his position. Untouchable and revered.
Fortunately for all concerned, the blow was softened by the sheer brilliance of Liverpool's campaign under Slott's wing. Flying in Premier LeagueTop and first place in UEFA Champions League Also, the Redmen are in a good position to finish in the grand slam of the 2024/25 season.
However, Liverpool will stick to the principle of staying grounded. There have been too many false dawns over the past decade going forward.
Things are going well at the moment, but everything can change in the blink of an eye. Slot started on Merseyside with a strict starting lineup that rarely changed. However, recent weeks have raised questions about Liverpool's depth, but perhaps it is fair to say that fringe players are answering with confidence.
Liverpool fringe players
The festive period is in full swing, and clubs are feeling the power of a notoriously tough football that is as tough as it is tense.
However, Liverpool passed the December test and will be top on Christmas Day after beating Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 in 17th place. It's almost crazy that the Reds have performed so well despite sweeping structural changes over the course of the year, a problem that has only worsened. When Federico Chiesa was the only summer signing.
The former Juventus star who He joined for just £12.5mHe only started once due to injury problems. He impressed off the bench against Southampton in midweek and could be a key presence as a replacement for Mohamed Salah in the coming months.
Furthermore, the status of Jarel Quansah and Wataru Endo has grown throughout this winter period, with Quansah replacing the injured Ibrahima Konate at times and the latter acting as a solid option in the late stages of the game, almost acting as a bulwark to hold off the enemy's advances as they progressed.
Endo even featured at centre-back in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and was awarded Liverpool's Man of the Match, remarkably. He won all eight of his ground duels.
The work in progress will extend into the new year, and Liverpool will need every member to succeed in their quest for the biggest prizes. Many talented fringe players, but perhaps none more important than them Joe Gomez.
Joe Gomez “Coach's Dream”
Back in 2015, Liverpool signed 18-year-old Gomez from Charlton Athletic. For a fee of £3.5 millionMaking him Liverpool's longest-serving first-team player.
Now 27, he has lifted Premier League titles, Champions League titles and a host of other honors alongside, but it all but ended during the off-season, with Newcastle United hoping to land the dynamic defender.
Klopp's decision to step down seemed like a natural end point in Gomez's mind, and with a deal for Anthony Gordon's Newcastle United in the pipeline over the summer, Gomez was He is considered to be part of the package worth £45m.
Remarkably, his 2023/24 season earned him a call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad. After four years awayIts market value has increased significantly.
In July 2023, his fortune was just £18 million, According to Transfermarktwith his woeful performance leaving observers like Podcaster Graeme Kelly To call it “finished”.
|
Joe Gomez – Liverpool Career by Position |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
position |
Applications |
Objectives |
Helps |
|
Center back |
122 |
1 |
2 |
|
Right back |
100 |
0 |
6 |
|
Left back |
32 |
0 |
2 |
|
Defensive midfield |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Statistics via Transfermarkt |
|||
How did that go down? The £45m star is one of Liverpool's best players once again, even if he doesn't start every week. His dynamism and professionalism He led one of the Italian Serie A journalists He was called “the coach's dream” after his strong performance against Tottenham.
His 14 appearances in all competitions have seen him play in three positions, and perhaps it is his tactical flexibility that makes him an interesting option for a team like Newcastle.
Emphasizing the importance of his rise in ratings, Gomez surpassed his old friend Trent Alexander Arnold In relation to its market value
Alexander-Arnold is one of the best players in the world and has been praised for his 'unplayable' passes. Critic Gary Neville After his spurs were put to the sword.
Of course, the 26-year-old's contract will expire at the end of the season and this hampers his price tag He stands at £22m via football transfers“, but it's still impressive to note that Gomez has achieved those financial gains considering that if this had been a year ago, this wouldn't have been the case.
Overall, Gomez is a modern Liverpool legend, cement-like in his importance over the years without always holding down a starting position. He will be remembered as a treasure when he taps the Liverbird logo one last time.
Market movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star or biggest flop player worth today?
last year, Critic Steve McManaman He described the Three Lions star as “absolutely invaluable” to Klopp's side, with his versatility and longevity making him an indispensable presence.
Had he been sold and Quansah had been tasked with covering Konate alone, Liverpool would clearly have felt the weight of the winter period even more.
Sadly, he continues to practice his skills with Liverpool, an unsung hero at times but without a doubt, one of the pillars of Anfield's rise and rise over the past decade.
