'I know': Gareth Southgate really likes £3.5m Liverpool player, he could yet go to the World Cup - pundit
Gareth Southgate could yet take Liverpool central defender Joe Gomez to the World Cup with England.
Gomez played up against Erling Haaland in Sunday’s clash with Manchester City and was outstanding as Liverpool won 1-0 at Anfield.
Former Anfield midfielder Danny Murphy told TalkSPORT that the £3.5 million man is looking fit and sharp after a run of games in the side.
Southgate could take Gomez to the World Cup
He said: “I know they (England) like him. The fact is, it’s understandable he’s not been in the squad. He got thrown back in coming back from injury, it’s never easy.
“You need games. His first game of the season at centre-back was against one of the best teams in Europe at the moment in Napoli, where he struggled.
“He’s been switched from right-back to centre-half, can’t get any rhythm going. One of the main things about his performance (against City), apart from his good distribution, is he looked really fit.
“That’s what 4-5 games does for you. Any player will tell you.”
England could be without Kyle Walker in Qatar, who offers an option at both right-back and centre-half, with great recovery pace.
Gomez is a different type of player but could offer an alternative for the City man if he is unable to make the squad.
On top of that, Harry Maguire is really struggling at Manchester United, with John Stones also battling with injury.
There is a dearth of elite options at the heart of defence for Southgate, and certainly not many who are playing Champions League football.
