Rodgers rules out Gomez loan

Brendan Rodgers has revealed that new signing Joe Gomez won’t spend the season out on loan following his arrival from Charlton Athletic.

Instead the 18 year old will stay and complete for a first team spot.

It was expected that Gomez would go out on loan to gain some first team football. However left back Alberto Moreno has picked up an injury and hasn’t featured in any of Liverpool’s two pre-season games, and with the versatility of Gomez; being able to play anywhere across to back four could be crucial for the Reds.

Speaking to lfctour.com Rodgers said: “He’s staying. I’ve seen enough in this period; you judge young players, I always bring them in and over pre-season have a good idea of whether we’re going to keep them or not. Seeing him, in particular close at hand and his personality – he’ll be staying, he’ll get games.”

Liverpool’s new number 12 only made 21 appearances during his time with the Charlton first team squad last season.

With Moreno injured and fellow left-back Jose Enrique expected to leave, it leaves Rodgers short in the full back department.

“He’s only 18 years of age, but seeing him play at left-back for the first time, he looked an outstanding athlete and a really good footballer. I’ve seen him at centre-half and at right-back, but I wanted to see him at left-back – and I thought he was outstanding,” added Rodgers.

Rodgers also sees the youngster eyeing a place in the centre back position as well as full back and believes that the England U19 international is more than capable to do well in that role.

“Gomez has played there a lot of his career,” says Rodgers. “We took him in from Charlton where he played as a centre-half as a two, played in a back three and he’s also played as a right-back, so he’s got all the tools to play across the back four. You saw him tonight play at left-back – he’s a big talent.”

The Northern Irishman has also revealed that left back Alberto Moreno will miss Monday’s pre-season cash with Adelaide United due to injury.