This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that Joe Gomez is “struggling” to deal with being a bit-part player at Anfield this season.
What did he say?
Gomez was included in the starting line-up for Liverpool against Napoli on Wednesday night, but he looked far from his best against the Italian side, managing a SofaScore rating of just 6.7.
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Former England goalkeeper Robinson has been speaking about the 22-year-old, and he believes he is finding it difficult on Merseyside considering the lack of playing time he is receiving. He said: “I think it’s due to him not playing. I think it’s because he played so much last year, I don’t think he’s coped well with being out of the team, I don’t think he’s coped well with bit-parts.
“Joe Gomez has found it hard to get back in the team and because he’s such a young lad, it’s the first time he’s probably had this in his career, I think he’s struggling with being a bit-part player.
“When he was playing last season, he was consistent, playing week in, week out. This year when he’s come in, he’s having to play right-back at times, centre-half, then he’s on the bench again for two or three games. I don’t think it’s suited him.”
A move could benefit him
Indeed, Gomez has had a difficult time of it so far this campaign.
The incident with Raheem Sterling on international duty, which led to him being booed at Wembley despite him doing nothing wrong, is unlikely to have helped him, but the lack of action he has seen with his club should be the bigger blow.
This campaign, he has started just eight matches in all competitions.
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He has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the past few months, and with the transfer window just around the corner, a move away from Anfield could benefit him.
As Robinson said, the constant switching between centre-back and right-back is not giving him much chance of developing into the defender he could be. At 22 years of age, it is about time he became a specialist in one position rather than being used as something of a utility man.
Not only that, but his prospects of playing an important role for the Three Lions at Euro 2020 rely on him playing on a regular basis. During the UEFA Nations League run, in which England finished third, Gomez played a part in four of the six matches, but he played just 20 minutes during qualifying for next year’s continental tournament.
Given there is uncertainty at the heart of the back-line – four centre-backs were used during the qualification process – a spot in the starting XI could be up for grabs. Gomez, though, has no chance if he continues to spend so much time on the bench.
Whether Liverpool would be willing to sell him is up for debate, especially considering that Joel Matip is currently out injured, but a move away from Anfield could be the best thing for the £31.5m-rated former Charlton man’s career – as per Transfermarkt.
In January, we will see what the future holds for him.
Meanwhile, John Aldridge expects one Liverpool man to embark on an impressive run.
