Joe Gomez has been Liverpool’s life-saver, says Jurgen Klopp (Action Images via Reuters)
Jurgen Klopp has hailed Joe Gomez as Liverpool’s ‘life-saver’ after his side reached the Carabao Cup final on Wednesday evening.
Luis Diaz’s first half-goal at Craven Cottage handed Liverpool a 3-1 semi-final lead on aggregate before Issa Diop scored an equaliser for Fulham to give Marco Silva’s side a lifeline.
However, Klopp’s side were able to hold on and they will now face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on February 25.
Gomez, meanwhile, delivered another impressive display on the left side of Liverpool’s defence and Klopp believes the 26-year-old has played a key role in the side during Andy Robertson’s absence.
‘Without Joe nothing would’ve happened in the last pretty much 13, 14 weeks since Robbo is out,’ Klopp said.
Joe Gomez delivered another impressive display as Liverpool reached the Carabao Cup final (PA)
‘Yes, because he could play there, but the things we could do with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] when we brought Joey on, I don’t exactly [know] how many games [he] played now this year, but I would say 20-something already. Not only games, [he] played exceptional today again.
‘He’s a real defender and he comes inside. He’s doing that really well. He tried a couple of times obviously to finish the discussion about not scoring. I would say for my taste from a bit too far but it’s still alright.
‘He is a life-saver, to be honest, that he was here, that he could play, and people forget how important Joey was in the best years we had.
‘I don’t know how many games he played in the year when we became champions and how many games he played when we won the Champions League. A lot and rightly so because he’s a top-class player.’
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‘He’s a top-class player.’