The rise and rise of Joe Gomez

Since signing for Liverpool in 2015 the career of Joe Gomez has certainly had its ups and downs.

From suffering devastating injuries to becoming a European champion, the 22-year-old Gomez has arguably experienced more in the game than even the most seasoned veteran.

The defensive partner of the world's greatest centre half, Virgil van Dijk, it is sometimes easy to overlook the importance and quality the England international brings to Liverpool...

Injury woes

Joe Gomez signed for Liverpool in 2015 for just £3.5 million from Charlton Athletic as a then 18-year-old. Prior to joining the Reds many Liverpool fans had little knowledge of the softly spoken Londoner but he'd already begun to make his mark in the game.

Making his Addicks' debut at the age of 17 he racked up 21 Championship appearances before making the move to Anfield.

It was perhaps Gomez's versatility which appealed most to Brendan Rodgers upon signing him. Despite being a natural centre back he also proved to be a talented full-back at Charlton flourishing on both sides of the pitch.

It was at left-back where Rodgers decided to deploy Gomez and he started the 2015/16 season brightly. The opening weeks of the season proved to be the beginning of the end of Rodgers' Liverpool tenure but Gomez had already earned the trust of the fans.

But then Gomez was hit by a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury while on international duty which ruled him out for more than a year.

During this time Jürgen Klopp joined the club beginning started his transformation and Gomez risked becoming another young player falling victim to a new regime after a long-term injury.

However, the German saw the potential. He became Liverpool's first-choice right-back in 2017 before suffering another injury during an international break. This time it required ankle surgery meaning he missed the 2018 Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid in Kiev.

2018/19 held a similar fate. By this time Trent Alexander-Arnold had made the right-back spot his own. A blessing in disguise, it meant Gomez was able to concentrate on his preferred position as a centre back.

Unfortunately, injury came calling once again. A fractured leg away at Burnley ended his burgeoning partnership with Van Dijk. Instead, Joel Matip became the man to play a key role in Liverpool's sixth European Cup victory partnering the Dutchman at the back during the key moments of the campaign.

Joe Gomez - Mr Invincible

On the 29th February 2020, Liverpool slumped to their first defeat of the season losing 3-0 away at Watford. While still on course for a record-breaking title win (until the Covid-19 pandemic suspended the season) this result meant Liverpool would not end the season unbeaten.

But one man who could still boast that claim was Joe Gomez.

While Joel Matip had remained Van Dijk's defensive partner for the start of the 2019/20 campaign, Gomez took his chance after the Cameroonian suffered a bout of injury problems.

With Gomez in the side, Liverpool remained unbeaten in the Premier League. His composure on the ball, calmness while under pressure and pace meant he was the perfect partner for van Dijk.

It can't be easy playing alongside the best centre back in the world but Gomez has managed to step out of the Dutchman's shadow and become a stand-out figure in his own right.

The two have forged a formidable partnership with Gomez playing just a big a role as Van Dijk. And the stats back it up.

With Gomez on the pitch, Liverpool have only conceded five league goals. This includes a run of conceding just once in a ten-game spell during a hectic Christmas period.

It is clear that Liverpool are better when Gomez is on the pitch. And his performances this season have been on par with the brilliance of Van Dijk.

England's best centre back

Despite missing the 2018 World Cup due to injury Gomez has also made an impact on the international stage.

He may only have eight caps to his name but his performances in a Three Lions shirt have been exemplary including in England's Nations League victory against Croatia in 2019. He also drew praise for keeping Neymar quiet during a friendly against Brazil.

His performances in a Liverpool shirt this season have further compounded the fact that he is now England's best option at centre back. With John Stones struggling with injury and consistency at Man City and Harry Maguire still finding his feet at Manchester United, Gomez has gone from strength to strength.

He is a better ball-playing centre back than Maguire and is less likely to be outmuscled than Stones, and had the European Championships gone ahead as planned would likely have been Gareth Southgate's number one pick for the position.

A combination of pace, athleticism and strength make him not only the best for his country but one of the best in the league. Away from Van Dijk and Aymeric Laporte, Gomez has perhaps proven himself to be the best of the rest when it comes to Premier League centre backs.

And at just 22 years of age, he looks set to come even better.