NewsJoe Gomez: I love being here, I always try to be ready
Joe Gomez has spoken of his desire to always be ready for Liverpool as he nears 10 years with the club.
The No.2 started each of the past three games for the Reds as they continue to set a strong pace at the summits of both the Premier League and Champions League.
Hugely versatile across all positions in defence, Gomez has stepped in for head coach Arne Slot amid injuries to Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas.
On his approach to ensuring he can be called on at any time, he said: “It is tricky because you don’t know when the chance will come or under what circumstances, what position and so on and so forth.
“But I can only control what I can focus on and that is being the best professional I can be. It is a great club to be at – and to see the positives in it. It could be worse.
“As a player, you always want to play so you have to just try to be ready. In many ways, I am used to it and have had many ups and downs but you relish playing and having the opportunity to be in the team.”
The arrival of Slot to the Liverpool dugout in the summer was the second such change during Gomez’s career at Anfield.
Recruited from Charlton Athletic by Brendan Rodgers back in 2015, the majority of his spell was subsequently under Jürgen Klopp.
And he is enjoying the particular demands of adapting to fresh instructions again.
“It is a process from a tactical standpoint,” said the 27-year-old. “It is definitely not as straightforward as seeing a pass and playing it.
“A lot is about how we can get around the pitch and try not to overload on one side and play with the ball a bit more.
“It has been great to learn. You just want to get better as a player and the coach is helping me and the rest of the boys to do that.”
Gomez will reach a decade of excellent service to the club at the conclusion of 2024-25, and his affection for life on Merseyside is as high as ever.
Regarding speculation about a transfer away from the Reds last summer, he said: “It was definitely for real. My focus was always on the club but I know how blessed I am to be here and I will be 10 years [at Liverpool] in the summer. I don’t take that for granted.
“It is the best club in the world in my eyes and it was quickly a case of adapting and getting into the swing of things. It was good to put it to bed. That is football. I am a big believer in focusing on the present.
“To be somewhere 10 years and not have any blips would not be natural, which probably speaks about my ambition. I love being here. I love the club.”
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