10 November 2023 , 19:31
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Joe Gomez is ready to "embrace" the challenge of playing as a full-back for Liverpool despite favouring a more central role.
Gomez, 26, is a centre-back by trade and established himself as one of the Premier League's most accomplished up-and-coming defenders during the early years of Jurgen Klopp 's premiership. However, Gomez has fallen down the Anfield pecking order since sustaining a serious injury in November 2020 with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate currently the Reds' preferred defensive partnership.
The England international's versatility has proven to be invaluable for Klopp since his recovery from said injury. Already this term, Gomez has been deployed as a left-back and a right-back to help plug gaps.
And while Gomez's preference would be to play regularly as a centre-half, the former Charlton Athletic academy graduate admits he has warmed to the idea of playing as a full-back. He told Sky Sports: "I mean I'm probably getting to an age now where I'm not resisting as much.
"I think trying to embrace whatever position I play is probably more important for me. If I was to write on paper where I play, I would probably still write centre-back. But with time, you grow in appreciation for the game and just learning it.
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"Trying to be dynamic and enjoy that position is something I enjoy as well. It brings different challenges and I enjoy that test. I think when I was younger I probably did resist it more and have a different outlook towards it when I played there. As I've got older it's embracing it and appreciating the challenge."
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Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is open to a future as a full-back (Sky Sports)Gomez, who joined the Reds back in 2015, was heavily linked with a transfer last year before putting pen to paper on a new long-term contract last summer. He is likely to feature on Sunday when Liverpool face Brentford in the Premier League.
Brentford's visit provides the Reds with the perfect opportunity to hit back after falling to a shock 3-2 defeat against Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night. The result was confirmed when a late goal from Jarrell Quansah - another player competing with Gomez for a central defensive berth - was ruled out by VAR.
Liverpool head into the final international break of the year knowing that a win would see them keep in touch with Manchester City at the Premier League summit.