How Jurgen Klopp Can Manage Joe Gomez's Return to the Liverpool 1st Team
When Joe Gomez took to the field at Liverpool's Melwood training facility on October 13, he was given a spontaneous round of applause from his team-mates, both old and new—such was the magnitude of his return, one year on from suffering a frustrating ACL injury on duty with the England under-21s.
Joining from Charlton Athletic in 2015 for £3.5 million, Gomez was soon lauded as a bargain by onlookers impressed by his composed performances at left-back for former Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.
This came despite Gomez turning out in what Rodgers described as his "third-best position," with the Ulsterman proclaiming two months after the player's arrival that "we know we have an outstanding talent."
The teenager made five consecutive starts in the Premier League, helping to keep clean sheets against Stoke City, Bournemouth and Arsenal, and another two in the UEFA Europa League, usurping Alberto Moreno as Liverpool's first-choice left-back and making the seamless transition from Championship football.
Then disaster struck, as Gomez forced was off the field late on in the Young Lions' 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena, and while U21 manager Gareth Southgate initially told reporters it was "hopefully not too serious," Jurgen Klopp saw one of his brightest prospects ruled out for the season.
This came days after the German took up the position of Liverpool manager, and now, after months of diligent rehabilitation and a disappointing setback during the summer, Gomez is finally able to show Klopp what he can do on the training field.
However, writing in his programme notes ahead of the Reds' 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday evening, Klopp insisted: "He is so young and with a long career ahead of him, so there is no need for him to rush."
The 49-year-old described Gomez as "someone who has a big future with Liverpool," so how can he manage his transition back into the first team on Merseyside? There are a number of options to consider.
The Loan Move
Such is the level of Gomez's promise and his current level of ability that his initial return to the fold during pre-season was predictably followed by speculation over a temporary move to join Rodgers at Celtic, but John McGarry of the Scottish Daily Mail revealed Liverpool were not receptive to their former manager's approach.
Now, with Gomez's rehabilitation complete, two further clubs have emerged as potential suitors in the loan market, with the Liverpool Echo's Neil Jones reporting interest from both Huddersfield Town and Bournemouth.
However, Jones also suggested Klopp would be "reluctant" to sanction a January move for the 19-year-old, instead preferring to oversee his transition back into regular football on Merseyside—but there is a case to suggest a loan could benefit Gomez in his recovery.
Away from the pressures of a potential title challenge at Liverpool, Gomez could return to competitive action in a less intense environment, possibly with less competition for a starting role in the defensive line.
This is particularly the case with Huddersfield, where Gomez could profit from Klopp's strong relationship with Terriers manager David Wagner—best man at his wedding and best friend for decades.
Wagner has already taken one promising young Reds talent on loan this season in goalkeeper Danny Ward, with the Welshman playing every minute of every game so far as Huddersfield push for the promotion places in the early months of the season, impressing with his composed shot-stopping displays.
Only three Championship sides—Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Derby County—have conceded fewer goals than Huddersfield this season, but there is arguably still an opening for Gomez in Wagner's back line, with Christopher Schindler the only centre-back to consistently impress at the John Smith's Stadium.
Loaning Gomez to Huddersfield would allow the youngster to find his feet again with the possibility of regular first-team football, and as Wagner's use of Ward proves, he is willing to build his side around Klopp's youth.
Premier League 2 and the Liverpool under-23s
The introduction of Premier League 2 this season, however, provides top-level clubs with an alternative to the loan market as they seek to secure competitive experience for their high-potential young players.
Restructuring the previous under-21 format, the Premier League now allows clubs to field players aged 23 and under, with one goalkeeper and three outfield players over 23 also available for selection, ensuring a closer reflection of the demands of the Football League and the English top flight.
Klopp has already allowed Liverpool under-23s manager Michael Beale to field the likes of Tiago Ilori, Kevin Stewart, Lucas Leiva and Danny Ings this season, with the latter's involvement the best reflection of Gomez's prospects.
Remarkably, Ings suffered an ACL injury of his own within days of Gomez's layoff, missing seven months of action as he underwent treatment at Melwood alongside his young team-mate.
While Ings was able to return to feature as a substitute in the Reds' 1-1 draw with West Brom on the final day of the 2015/16 league campaign, the striker has played just 27 minutes of senior football so far this season—in the EFL Cup against Derby County—instead regularly turning out for the U23s, making three appearances.
This is unquestionably due to the likes of Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi being ahead of him for a starting role up front for Klopp's first team, but Premier League 2 has handed Ings the opportunity to return to full fitness while he waits for his opportunity.
Gomez would benefit from the same approach, and with the less favoured Ilori and Mamadou Sakho currently serving as Beale's first-choice centre-back pairing, the teenager could expect to supersede one of the duo, owing to his place in Klopp's long-term thinking.
As Ings has proved, Premier League 2 can be the ideal liminal league for a player returning from injury, and with Gomez still only 19, he would thrive in this environment.
Swift Reintegration and 1st-Team Football
There is scope to argue, however, that Gomez could make the immediate transition back into the senior squad at Anfield, given the ex-Addick's versatility and defensive quality and Klopp's admiration for his talents.
Gomez is capable of operating as a left-back, right-back or, as he told reporters shortly after his arrival at the club, in his favoured position at centre-back. "At the end of the day I see myself as a centre-back, and in years to come that is where I hope to play," he said in September of last year.
Klopp currently has Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan as established options at centre-back, and Lucas Leiva has deputised in the role when required; at left-back, the German has James Milner and Moreno, while Nathaniel Clyne has played every minute of every game so far this season at right-back.
Though Liverpool are without European football for 2016/17 and therefore set to play just once a week for much of the campaign, Gomez could be handed an opportunity if injury strikes.
This is particularly the case at right-back, with Connor Randall and Trent Alexander-Arnold the most likely candidates to fill in for Clyne if the England international is missing at all this season; Gomez is arguably more competent than the young duo, having made 13 appearances at right-back for Charlton in 2014/15.
However, as Jones revealed on Gomez's return from injury, Klopp is likely to pencil the youngster in for a stint with the U23s for the time being—and this is the most suitable position at this stage in his recovery.
Gomez is one of the best young talents at Klopp's disposal at Liverpool, and as a result his rehabilitation must be carefully managed, with Premier League 2 providing the perfect balance between regular competitive action and training sessions alongside the Reds' first team at Melwood—priming the defender for what Klopp has described to the press as a "big future."
Jack Lusby will be covering Liverpool throughout 2016/17 as one of Bleacher Report's lead correspondents. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted; statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk.
Follow Jack on Twitter @jacklusby_ and Facebook here.
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