Joe Gomez: Whelan expects Liverpool to block ‘unhappy’ defender’s exit after after YouTube reveal
Noel Whelan has insisted Jurgen Klopp will not consider letting Joe Gomez leave Liverpool despite a lack of first-team action this season.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the 24-year-old would be unhappy with his game time at Anfield.
Speaking to the Premier League’s Youtube channel on Thursday (17 February), Gomez revealed his “personal” focus is on making more appearances and “playing more over a long period”.
The versatile defender has found game time limited due to injuries and the form of other players at Anfield.
However, Whelan suggested Klopp would be happy to make Gomez bide his time.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I don’t think any player or any professional is happy when they’re not starting football matches.
“That’s what Jurgen Klopp wants. He doesn’t want people getting comfortable. He doesn’t want people to accept not being in the side.
“That’s why you have a squad, that’s why you have that healthy competition and that’s why you have people saying that they want to play. They want to be in that team fighting for their position.
“It’s a massive club, Liverpool, and they’re going to win trophies and they’re going to be in the biggest competitions. With that comes the challenge of trying to stay in the side and trying to get back into a team.
“I’m sure that if any injury does come up to any centre-halves or full-backs, because we know he can play that position as well, maybe the opportunity is there. You’ve got to take it with both hands.
“Everyone’s going to have to chip in throughout a whole course of a season in every competition for this club to be successful.
“You don’t want to lose players like that, especially with that kind of attitude of wanting to push other people out of their position and show the manager what he can do.
“I think it’s really good that he’s not just thinking about moving club, but he’s fighting for his place.”
Gomez has started just four times in 12 appearances for Liverpool this season.
Three of those started came in the Reds’ League Cup run.
In other news, pundit fears Liverpool hero could join rivals after Fabrizio Romano update.