Press conference'Joe Gomez typifies the exceptional attitude in our squad'

Saturday’s win over Norwich City was Gomez’s first start in the Premier League since November 2020.

Ahead of the Reds’ meeting with Leeds United on Wednesday evening, Klopp was asked whether how the defender has dealt with his situation represents an example for fellow teammates who have not had as much game time as they would have liked.

The boss replied: “It is a very good example but a very special story as well because with the quality of Joe it’s really difficult. If I would be Joe Gomez I would be really difficult to deal with [in] the situation because of the quality he has, because of the player he is.

“Everybody likes, if not loves, Joey. With a pretty difficult injury and a few things afterwards – getting COVID in completely the wrong moment when we had an FA Cup game, and these kind of things – made it difficult for him to get rhythm.

“I am really happy about the performance [against Norwich]. It was the first goal where he was involved in the half-space; lose the ball, win it back and then pass the ball and from there we go. I was really, really pleased for him. I’m pretty sure he was nervous, that’s normal after [such a] long time and being in the position he likes maybe the second-most but not the most.

“It was for us very important that he could play there because [of] Rashica, with the speed. What was clear was that we would not go for Trent – not because of Rashica, but because Trent needed a break and then who do you bring? And it was really perfect to have Joey available.

“Yes, it’s an example, absolutely, like we have a lot of other examples, I have to say, in the moment. I told the boys yesterday: the way we deal with different situations in the moment is really exceptional because some players start who are used to being outside more often [and] others don’t start who are used to being in the line-up.

“And all of them, we all saw it in the last two games, the changes we could make were massive and the influence they had and that’s exactly how it has to be. As long as we can do that, as long as we can use the squad like that, we have a good chance to win football games.”