Jose Enrique backs Joe Gomez, but insists Liverpool need defensive cover

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Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has praised Joe Gomez, but insisted the Reds need to invest in cover for the injured Virgil van Dijk.

The Reds are currently very short of options at the back, with Dutchman van Dijk out for the foreseeable future having undergone surgery to repair ACL damage.

In recent matches, youngsters Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have been drafted in, with van Dijk’s cover Fabinho suffering a hamstring injury.

Joel Matip is said to be on the verge of a return, but it is undeniable Liverpool are short of defensive options with £3.5 million signing Gomez (BBC Sport) the only constant in 2020/21 so far.

In the eyes of Enrique, Liverpool will look to address this.

He told Stadium Astro: “For me, I’m not sure about names because there are so many coming out.

“For me, [Joe] Gomez is a top centre-back. He has everything. His improvement over the last few seasons, can you rely on him like you do with Van Dijk?

“I believe Gomez and Van Dijk when they are fit, I don’t know who else can be better than them two together. I believe they should go for a younger player, and I think that’s what Liverpool will do.”

TBR’s View – A younger player could well be on the cards

van Dijk and Matip are both 29, so it would not be a surprise to see Liverpool go after someone closer to Gomez’s age (23) in January.

Perhaps Jurgen Klopp will look at bringing in 20-year-old Ajax star Perr Schuurs, who is someone reported to be on the club’s radar (Mirror).

The club arguably needed cover at the back even before van Dijk’s injury, and so it really wouldn’t be any surprise if Michael Edwards sprung into action in the next transfer window.