The form of new signing Joe Gomez is of no surprise to assistant manager Sean O’Driscoll.
The 18-year-old started his first Premier League game against Stoke City and was one of the stand-out players during the Reds’ 1-0 win.
It had been expected that the England Under-19 international was to spend the new season out on loan, but the youngster’s impressive performances during pre-season have earned him a place in the starting XI.
O’Driscoll had previously worked with Gomez at youth level for England and the former Charlton man’s performances are no shock to Liverpool’s new number two.
“He played against Germany in Dusseldorf for the Under-19s – playing up an age group, which is part of the FA remit to bump talented players up and play them,” O’Driscoll told LiverpoolFC.com.
“His composure struck me. That doesn’t happen many times in football where you sit and go ‘ooohhh’. There are lots of good players out there, but very few who make your back straighten. He was one.”
Before the versatile defender arrived on Merseyside, Gomez attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs and according to the Mail Online, Arsenal were amongst them.
O’Driscoll has managed in the Championship with Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, back in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
The 58-year-old was surprised that Gomez wasn’t snapped up by a top-flight team sooner:
“I’d seen him play in various positions across the back line for Charlton. When I was chatting about players in my England U19s squad, he was one I was surprised that no Premier League club had come in for.”
