ReactionJoe Gomez interview: 'Massive' Brighton win, being ready and fighting for success

The defender was introduced at half-time of Saturday’s Premier League game due to an injury sustained by Ibrahima Konate in the latter stages of the first period.

• Arne Slot offers post-match update on Ibrahima Konate injury

At that stage Brighton led 1-0 through Ferdi Kadioglu’s goal, but quickfire strikes from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah after the break saw the Reds come from behind to win 2-1 and move top of the table.

Gomez produced an assured performance after being called upon by Arne Slot and was serenaded by the home supporters at full-time.

The No.2 told Liverpoolfc.com: “I think firstly it’s a worry, it’s ‘Is Ibou OK? What is it?’ But there’s not really time and obviously he went with the medical staff and then you don’t really see him and you’re just told you’re coming on.

“I think you have to be ready: I think every time you are on the bench you are not just a spectator, you know you are here to participate and do your job so obviously it takes a moment to get yourself together, but it’s great to be part of the team and get a win.

“It’s always special. Obviously this is home for me and the club means everything to me, so the most important thing is – cliché – that we got the win, but the boys, we keep the momentum now going into a big game in the Champions League.

“We just want to keep fighting, stay up there, keep capitalising on other teams dropping points and that’s where we belong, to be up there competing. So, that’s the main thing.”

Read the rest of our post-match interview with Gomez below.

On a much-improved second half from Liverpool…

Yeah, obviously we didn’t want to be in that position in the first place but it’s another great afternoon at Anfield and the support and the atmosphere definitely gave us the push. I know it’s a cliché but it’s massive and it makes it nicer that we can come back from 1-0 down against a good team like that.

On what Slot implemented at half-time to help turn the match around…

I think tactically everything was nailed in the week obviously but it was more just [about] having a bit more bite and intensity, which I think was visible in the second half and obviously, like I said, the support was massive. But I think we needed to be a bit more physical, win the battles and the second balls and then play from there, and then it takes [the] quality of the boys that we know is there to get us the goals. So yeah, a massive, massive win I think.

On coming close to scoring his first Reds goal on two occasions…

Yeah, I definitely would have got a yellow [card] if I’d have scored there today! I thought I had too much time [for his first chance] and then I half wanted it to be offside so I had an excuse! But it’ll come one day.

• Read our match report from Anfield

On the goals scored by Gakpo and Salah…

It’s such a good quality of Cody’s, that when he comes inside [he] just hits such a good area every time [and] whether you get on the end of it or not, that was a primary example of how effective it is and then we get a massive lift. We all get back behind the ball and get going for the second and Mo’s quality, it’s Mo, so, an unbelievable finish and then we have to see it out and the boys did so well.

On Salah overtaking Robbie Fowler to move into outright eighth place in the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorers list…

I think it’s countless records now, isn’t it? And I don’t think we should lose sight of how big they are just because he keeps knocking them down. I think they are massive and obviously he is a legend and always will be at the club now, but it’s just nice to be a part of it and to witness it.

• Arne Slot press conference: Half-time message, 'incredible' Anfield and Gomez appreciation