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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his joy about how defender Joe Gomez has dealt with the situation of becoming the senior centre-back at Anfield.

With Dutchman Virgil van Dijk currently sat on the sidelines injured, it’s been up to his usual centre-back partner Gomez to become the leader.

He’s had Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams as two different inexperienced players alongside him at times, but he’s shown real maturity in helping to guide them through games.

Gomez is a senior England international and was a crucial player in the club’s title-winning season last year, which is why it’s to forget he’s still aged just 23.

He is a modern day centre-back with plenty of pace and he’s great on the ball, but he may soon be going back to the youngster option in the heart of defence when Joel Matip is reintegrated to the side.

Klopp was asked about how Gomez has responded to the increased responsibility on his shoulders following Van Dijk’s injury, he responded:

“Very good. He’s still young. Impressive boy,” Klopp said in his press conference, as quoted by the club’s official Youtube account.

“He’s had so many different [centre-back] partners but he was always the kid in the line pretty much and that changed now completely.

“Everybody in life, we have to grow in situations like this and he did that. He used the last few weeks. He was pretty much thrown in cold water. He used it really well. I’m really happy with his performances he put in.

TBR’s View:

Liverpool have so many star-studded names all over the pitch within their side and Gomez is perhaps one of the few individuals that doesn’t get mentioned in the same breath as some of their superstars.

But the English defender has proven he’s a consistent quality defender at the top level and his position has become so vital due to Van Dijk’s absence.

He’s capable of the odd individual mistake and lapse in responsibility, but it’s looked like in recent games he’s thrived as a leader and many consider him to be England’s best option at centre-half.