Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp must learn from Joe Gomez mistake v Manchester United
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp must ensure he avoids playing Joe Gomez at right-back again after the 26-year-old’s display against Manchester United.
Klopp and his players tasted a rare defeat in dramatic fashion as they were eliminated from the FA Cup at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester United, with the Red Devils netting a last-minute extra-time winner in a 4-3 classic at Old Trafford (17 March).
With Liverpool’s players now away on international duty, Klopp will be keen to dissect his side’s performance against United to ensure he gets his team back on track when they take on Brighton at Anfield on Sunday (31 March).
While his hopes of a final trip to Wembley are now gone, Klopp can still end his historic Liverpool reign with a treble, with the Premier League and UEFA Europa League still very much up for grabs.
One thing the German must avoid to ensure he does that is playing Gomez as a right-back.
Gomez has started 14 Premier League matches this season, and made a further 10 appearances from the bench.
11 of his outings have come at left-back, while 10 have come as a right-back, although the Englishman demonstrated against United that the right side of a back-four is not his strongest position.
As per Sofascore, Gomez made zero clearances and zero interceptions, while he was dribbled past on one occasion.
He did make three tackles and block one shot, but he also won just four of his 11 ground duels and failed to contest a single aerial duel.
On the ball he was particularly sloppy, giving possession away 24 times and completing just 80 per cent of his passes.
Gomez also lacked quality in the final third, managing just one successful cross from three attempts, three accurate long balls forward from seven attempts and one successful dribble from four tries.
It was an afternoon to forget for the defender, and if Klopp wants to give his Liverpool team the best chase of winning the league this season, he must ensure that the right-back position remains exclusive to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley.
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