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| Joe Gomez moved to Liverpool from Charlton |
JOE GOMEZ offers a confession. Contrary to popular belief his move to Liverpool has not been without its problems, complications and even the odd occasional moment of self-doubt.
“I lived at home when I was playing for Charlton,” said the 18-year-old. “So this is the first time I have been living by myself.
“If we finish training early you can be on your own quite a while, so it is all about learning to be independent in a different sort of way.
“I’m trying to cook meals… and I’m getting better to be fair. My speciality? The simple things like a stir fry, spaghetti Bolognese and warming up some Uncle Bens.
“But I wouldn’t say I can make something spectacular. I’ve been used to my mum’s cooking!”
Gomez breaks into a smile but it speaks volumes that those difficulties he has endured since moving to Merseyside have largely been confined to the kitchen.
After all, if his summer move after just 16 starts in the Championship to the top flight did not represent an exacting step up in standard, then the fact the right-footed Gomez has been pitched straight into the starting line-up by Brendan Rodgers at left-back has set another challenge for him to overcome.
So far, so good.
After the youngster had helped overcome Stoke on the opening weekend – Gomez’s pass found Philippe Coutinho in the build-up to the winning goal – Jon Walters approached Rodgers at the final whistle and said Liverpool had picked up a “good one” in his opponent that day.
“He was a good test for me to come up against in my first game,” reflected Gomez. “He had the experience. He was able to do little things like use his physical side to draw fouls, but at the same time he had the Premier League quality with the ball as well.
“Generally before a game I am wary of who am I up against, but once the game starts I just get on with it. I am not going to be scared or worried. If an opponent gets the better of me then the next time I will try and get the better of them.”
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| Brendan Rodgers has been pleased with Gomez's performances |
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| Joe Gomez has started both Premier League games this season |
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| Rodgers thanked Jon Walters for giving Joe Gomez a test on his debut |
On Monday, his athleticism, composure and technique caught the eye in the victory over Bournemouth, a win which further underpins confidence going into this Monday’s examination with Arsenal.
Gomez is on an upwards trajectory, but his feet remain firmly on the floor.
“I wouldn’t say it has been a dream,” he said. “I think I said the move to come to Liverpool was a dream, but I know I have only played two games.
“I haven’t done anything yet. It has been positive and a really good learning experience. The one thing it has done is it has motivated me to try and do more.
“There was a possibility I might go on loan, but, for me, I didn’t want to aim for that. I wanted to come and play but I knew being young and coming from the Championship that that could be a possibility, especially because there are top quality players here.
“I knew I had to come in and prove myself straight away.
“It has been a bit of a surprise playing at left-back. I like to think I am a centre-back, but I knew full-back would give me the best opportunity to play – just not on that side.
“Receiving the ball is obviously different, but at the same time it does give you options because when you come inside you are on your stronger foot.
“But it is a challenge and it’s not what I am used to. It's helping me learn to use my weaker foot which is good.
“It is a whole other level to what I have been used to at Liverpool. No disrespect to Charlton, but you are expected to win here.
“I am enjoying it, but I am trying not to take too much glory from it. It’s two games.”
His is an attitude that feels like an anti-dote to the excesses of others of not dis-similar ages in the game.
Gomez credits his level-headed, grounded approach to his mother, Linda, and father, Gus, who will take extra interest in how his son performs against Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey or Alexis Sanchez at The Emirates given he is an Arsenal supporter.
Arsene Wenger was among the manager’s interested in signing Gomez. Manuel Pellegrini, too, but Rodgers’ track record of giving youth a chance at Anfield offered a pathway he is determined to charge down.
“Before I sort of signed professional at Charlton, there was interest in me but it never really got to the point where I was sitting down and discussing opportunities,” said Gomez, who has been helped by having his England U19 coach, Sean O’Driscoll, having moved to Anfield as assistant manager.
“When I was young my dad said to my agents that he wanted to keep any interest away from me. It was only later I found out this or that club had an interest in me.
“My dad didn’t want anything to get into my head. My parents and my siblings (he has three sisters and a brother) are big factors in keeping me grounded.
“Going into secondary school, I’ve had the same friends so I have always been around the same people. If I tried to change or get ahead of myself they would tell me straight away.
“A lot of people think footballers have a flash lifestyle and go out and do this. I am the opposite. I am a home-bird, who likes to be around family and friends. I just prefer in a calm environment.
Gomez, who cites Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sergio Ramos as his defensive idols and studies clips of them on YouTube, continues: “Coming to Liverpool there is obviously the history and size of the club, but Brendan Rodgers was one of the driving forces as well.
“I had options but once I met him straight away it felt like I wanted to come here. It has been everything I thought it would be and more.
“I am just getting on with it. I am wary at the same time. I have far from secured a place in the team and I know I need to keep working and learning from the manager and so on.”
Logic suggests there will be a point when Gomez suffers a dip and when his mental strength will be tested.
Yet while his fledgling career on the whole is on an upward ascent in terms of his progression and development, it has not been without its setbacks. He is prepared for the tests that will come.
“I have had phases where I have felt a bit down, confidence wise,” he said. “I had a period where I was playing every other game at Charlton and then I did some ligaments in my ankle.
“It was my first proper injury and I was out for eight weeks. Because last season was my first season, and there was a new manager, I was anxious was I going to drop back again.
“I would over think things a lot and my confidence suffered. I wasn’t playing naturally when I got back and all the people around me knew it was a rough period.”
For the time being, life is good; providing the occasional pinch yourself moment.
“I get changed in between Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino for training and it was weird at first. I was like, ‘wow',” he adds.
It has not taken Gomez long to suggest that in time he can sit comfortably alongside them.
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