Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia has praised centre-back Joe Gomez, calling him a younger version of Virgil van Dijk. Gomez was a regular for Liverpool at the start of the season. However, he sustained an ankle injury during Liverpool’s Premier League match against Burnley in December. Since then, he has been out of action.
However, Gomez’s recovery is going well and he should be back to full fitness. Hyypia believes that the 21-year old will be England’s leading centre-back for a long time.
The former Finland international said, “Joe Gomez can be the leading centre-back in England for a long time. He is still young and he can still learn. With experience he will learn, but he has everything. I know Virgil van Dijk is not the oldest guy, but Gomez is like a young Virgil.
He has the same qualities—he’s so quick and so strong in his challenges and he can play football as well. I’m not there for the whole time so I can’t comment on how good he is at communicating on the field, but if he keeps learning that side of things it will help his game, the guy next to him and the whole team. I just think he will be so good for Liverpool, but it is important that he stays fit to have that bright future ahead of him.”
Gomez should be fit by the time Liverpool play Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals. Provided he gets fit, Jurgen Klopp may have a selection dilemma between Gomez, Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren.
Also Read: Luis Garcia believes Virgil van Dijk could lead Liverpool to the Premier League title
