Klopp Talk: “No Doubt” That Joe Gomez Is Available for PSG Game

The defender missed out against Watford but should be straight back in action.

In what was overall a very good win away to Watford yesterday, there were only a few negatives. Joe Gomez’s injury was one of them.

An ever present part of Liverpool’s back four this season, the English centre back missed out against Watford after picking up a slight knock in training the day before the game. With Gomez being in such good form, there were understandable concerns about the effect his absence could have in the Champions League away to PSG on Wednesday night. Not to worry, says Jürgen Klopp.

“In the last second of [Friday]’s session, he got a little knock”, the Liverpool manager told the official club website.

“We thought: ‘Come on, let’s bring him and have a look in the morning.’ He said it was 80 per cent better, that’s good. So he’s no doubt for Wednesday.

“But we had Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and Dejan [Lovren] at 100 per cent, so we didn’t have to make a decision. It was clear he could be rested and can recover more, and then he is ready for Wednesday again.”

Problem solved, then. The centre back partnership between Gomez and Virgil van Dijk has been one of the biggest positives for Liverpool this season, with a past problem area now looking totally locked down. Van Dijk is able to sweep up in the air and in the box, while Gomez is able to take a more aggressive, front foot stance. That the two of them are so lightning fast helps Liverpool play a high line without being easily exposed. Klopp’s faith in Dejan Lovren is clearly strong, and there is no doubt that the Croatian has improved significantly since his first season at Anfield. Gomez remains the man, though, and rightly so. If Liverpool are to win in Paris this week, the 21 year old will need to give yet another imperious performance. I wouldn’t bet against it.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com