Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool man a ‘serious contender’ for England World Cup spot as desperate Southgate looks to rectify problem

James Milner, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson

A Liverpool player who has been out of the England setup for several years could get a call-up to the World Cup amid a number of defensive injuries, according to a report.

Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker is likely to miss the tournament in Qatar. This is because of a groin injury he picked up in the 6-3 thrashing of local rivals Manchester United. He has since undergone surgery on the issue.

While Walker is making good progress in his recovery, it is unclear whether he would have enough match fitness to convince Gareth Southgate he deserves to make the plane.

Chelsea star Reece James, meanwhile, will miss eight weeks due to a knee problem sustained in the Blues’ 2-0 win over AC Milan. In a tweet on Saturday, James said ‘the race against time is on’ and that he ‘won’t give up’. But all signs suggest the London-born player will miss the World Cup, just like Walker.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fitness has also come into question recently. He had to be taken off at half time during Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal with an ankle injury. Alexander-Arnold was then left out of the Champions League thrashing of Rangers, although he did come off the bench against City on Sunday.

If Alexander-Arnold is unfit, then Southgate will be left seriously short of options. He would need to find another right-back – who can also play as a right wing-back – to provide competition for Kieran Trippier.

According to The Sun, this is where one of Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool team-mates come in. They claim Joe Gomez could complete a shock and make the England squad for the World Cup.

Southgate is running out of options and he may have to turn to the 25-year-old, who can play as a centre-back or right-back. Gomez is less comfortable further forward in a right-wing back role, but Southgate has little choice right now.

Liverpool player becomes a ‘serious contender’ for England spot

The Sun names Gomez as a ‘serious contender’ to be picked by Southgate. The Three Lions boss remains an admirer of Gomez, despite not having picked him for international duty in two years.

The former Charlton man has had injury problems of his own. He has also fallen down the pecking order at England due to Southgate’s usually plentiful options at right-back.

Gomez has won 11 England caps previously. The last of those came in October 2020. Gomez played 58 minutes in a 3-0 win over Wales.

Southgate believes Gomez has done enough to earn another England chance, should the opportunity present itself. The manager sent assistant Steve Holland to watch Gomez and a few other players during Liverpool vs City at the weekend.

And Gomez did well at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk. Together they stopped Erling Haaland from scoring for the first time in 10 games in all competitions.

The one concern for England supporters and Southgate alike is whether Gomez can stay fit himself. He only made 12 appearances during the 2020-21 campaign due to suffering a long-term knee injury. Gomez also had to have ankle surgery in 2018-19. This stopped him from playing more than 26 times for Liverpool that season.

It would be great to see the player get himself back in the England fold after such a long absence. This would send a message to other England outcasts that an opportunity could happen in the future, even if they are out of the picture right now.

Meanwhile, a pundit thinks a top Everton player will become a ‘Big-Six’ target and Liverpool have already been named as potential suitors.