Agbonlahor: Joe Gomez should be bombed out of Liverpool – ‘he doesn’t have the knowledge’
Gabby Agbonlahor has insisted Joe Gomez no longer has the “knowledge or quality” to play for Liverpool at the highest level following his Champions League horror show.
The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, accused the 25-year-old of “not doing the basics of defending”.
Gomez was substituted as an injury precaution after 73 minutes of Liverpool’s 5-2 Champions League Round of 16 first-leg loss against Real Madrid.
The England international failed to make a single tackle or block and lost possession six times – and couldn’t get close enough to Vinicius Jr for his opening goal.
Gomez has come into the side recently to deputise for injured centre-back duo Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate – but Van Dijk has returned and Konate is close to full fitness.
The former Charlton star signed a new five-year contract last summer (2022) despite playing just over 1000 minutes of football in the 2021-22 season.
Liverpool sit eighth in the Premier League and will play the second leg in Madrid on 15 March.
Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I just feel sorry for him at the moment.
“He’s not at the level he used to be at.
“He’s got the pace of a top defender, but he just doesn’t look like he has the knowledge or the right quality to play at this level. He’s gone in that regard.
“Even Vinicius Jr’s first goal – you can’t let him have that much space. Go and make the tackle.
“He’s not doing the basics of defending any more.
“I think Klopp will look at Joel Matip and think he’s better off putting him in there, and hope Konate is able to come back as soon as possible.”
In other news, Football Insider updates with Liverpool working on three signings as new plan emerges.