Joe Gomez Talks Pre-Match Preparations

The team has treated the ten days between games as an extension of pre-season training.

The ten-day break between Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 victory against West Ham and today’s match against Crystal Palace may have felt like far too long for fans who couldn’t wait to see more of this incredibly enjoyable team, but the team is grateful for the time off. They might have lost some positive momentum from the win, but the break has been a huge help for Liverpool’s training.

“You can build and continue to progress and work on things. I know the coaching staff appreciate the gap,” Joe Gomez told the club’s official website when asked about the team’s preparation for Crystal Palace. “Like on Wednesday, you can use it to get some minutes in the legs and play a training game.”

“There are pros and cons when you have a good result or a bad result – sometimes you just want to get straight into the next one,” Gomez added. “But it’s time for us to build and try to progress and work on things in training, and the tactical aspect.”

Gomez took centre stage in the season opener with Matip and Lovren both injured, and the boss was extremely happy with his performance and partnership with van Dijk. Gomez will likely be playing alongside van Dijk again today, and is more than ready for Roy Hodgson and his Eagles.

“You try to be aware of their strengths and there are some significant ones in players like Benteke – obviously he was here and everyone knows how powerful he can be – and Zaha and Townsend,” Gomez said.

“They have got good strength going forward. We have to try to do our best to deal with their threats and be ready and aware of them.”

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com