Joe Gomez, Liverpool’s longest-serving squad member, has sparked speculation regarding his future at Anfield by admitting that “anything can happen” during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Since arriving from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2015, Joe Gomez has navigated a decade-long rollercoaster on Merseyside, balancing the glory of lifting every major trophy with the grueling reality of long-term injuries.
Now, after ten years of service, the versatile defender stands at a significant crossroads in his career.
The passage of time is best framed by a look back at this day in 2016: Liverpool were preparing for their Europa League final against Sevilla the first European final of the Jurgen Klopp era.
While Klopp arrived a few months after Gomez, the defender remains the sole surviving member of that original squad.
He is the only player to have witnessed the entire evolution of the club, from those early rebuilding stages to the pinnacle of world football.
While the Englishman has suffered many injuries, which have seen him sidelined for months, he’s played his part in the resurgence of the club under the German boss, and played nine times in their Premier League conquest under Arne Slot.
Though it seems after 11 years on Merseyside, it will finally be coming to an end. There was a possibility it would get cut short last summer on deadline day if the Anfield outfit wrapped up the Marc Guehi deal, with Serie A side Roma interested in Gomez, though neither deal prevailed.
Speaking with the Liverpool Echo, the 28-year-old has admitted that there is uncertainty regarding his position at Anfield, especially with his deal at the club coming to an end in 2027.
He said, “I don’t know is the honest answer. I’ve only got a year left on my contract, so I don’t know.
“Whatever’s meant to be will be, but I’m so grateful to have had this time here at this club.”
While the defender has had a few fitness issues this campaign, none have saw him miss more than three games this season, though that isn’t reflected in his minutes.
Although Gomez has featured in 19 league matches this season, his role has been defined by brief cameos rather than consistent starts. His opportunities for significant game time have been scarce, with only four appearances exceeding 45 minutes.
Most notably, he has completed the full 90 minutes just twice: during the 2-0 victory over West Ham in November and the 1-1 stalemate with Tottenham in March.
Some of those minutes also came on the weekend in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, and it was one of the very few times that the defender would have heard his own fans boo following the final whistle.
Though he understands why the Kopites are venting their anger in that way, as they aren’t matching the requirements set by the supporters.
“The fans pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us, and they’re entitled to show their frustration in the same way they cheer us.
“Fundamentally, the supporters want to see us give it all, but that is on the ball, trying to play progressive football, trying to be intense, but also off the ball, put a foot in, try and win a tackle.
“You can’t undermine that. This place (Anfield) comes with a lot of expectation and pressure, and that takes time to understand and really get a full picture of.”
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If Gomez were to entertain an offer this summer and bring an end to his 11-year stint, he wouldn’t be the only experienced player at the club to follow that path.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have both confirmed that they will only play in the red shirt two more times at the most, while it seems that Alisson is very close to striking a deal with Italian giants, Juventus.
Older players all eventually have to move on, in favour of new blood to make their stories for the club and become the legends of tomorrow, though discarding not just leaders, but players who still have that hunger to succeed is slightly concerning.
One of the names high on Richard Hughes’ shortlist looks to be Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, though following last year’s window, it leaves plenty to be desired, and perhaps the deals themselves were simply the wrong selection.
Getting rid of quality for the unknown is worrying for any team, but particularly for the Reds, who are fighting many battles at this stage regarding players, the manager and the supporters.
Before that takes centre stage, they have two games against Europa League finalists, Aston Villa and Brentford, with Gomez hoping this end can propel them in the correct direction.
“We dust ourselves off, and we go again and just go into the (next) year and have a good start.”
The 28-year-old has a big decision to make, whether it’s in his hands or not, but there is no doubt that he wants the best for the club even during a period of doubt at Liverpool.
