Liverpool Transfer News: Legends Warn Against Joe Gomez, Roberto Firmino Hype

Liverpool legends John Barnes and Luis Garcia have urged fans not to get too carried away with the hype surrounding summer arrivals Joe Gomez and Roberto Firmino, asking the Reds faithful to be patient with the two stars.

Much is expected from the duo, with young defender Gomez impressing early and Firmino looking like an absolute stud during his time with Hoffenheim, but for now, fans should temper their expectations.

Speaking to talkSPORT (h/t Daily Mirror's Aaron Flanagan), Barnes reminded fans Gomez was never meant to be the starting left-back this season to begin with:

"

I would have never got carried away with Joe Gomez.

He’s a young boy who they wanted to put out on loan, but he did so well in pre-season that they threw him in to the first-team.

Some people were saying that he’s going to be the Liverpool left-back for the next ten years!

He’s still gaining experience, so maybe we just have to not get too excited about Joe Gomez, thinking that he’s now going to nail down the left-back position.

"

The 18-year-old joined the Reds from Charlton Athletic in June and looked sensational during pre-season, leading to a surprise inclusion in Brendan Rodgers' starting XI for the Premier League opener against Stoke City.

He's retained his position through four matches, showing plenty of promise in the process. Outside90 shared this graphic from Oulala, which shows his numbers look more than solid compared to some of the Premier League's best at his position:

While no one expected this much success from the teenager this early, everyone hoped Firmino would come in and instantly transform the squad.

The Brazil international started against Arsenal and West Ham United and looked underwhelming in both matches, but per Garcia, that's only normal, as he told the Liverpool Echo (h/t Flanagan):

"

It’s not easy to come into the Premier League and adapt. I think that he’s a very good player but you have to give him time to adapt to the pace of the game, to the players, the different situations in games.

He’s a player that wants to do things to change games, like Coutinho does at the moment.

"

Firmino looked excellent during the 2015 Copa America, which only added to the hype surrounding his arrival, and after taking some time off to recover from a busy summer, he's slowly starting to work toward his best form.

While Reds fans may be expecting big things from the 23-year-old, others are more sceptical. Starsport recently ran a poll among its readers asking who would be the biggest transfer flop of the season, and Firmino easily beat out the likes of Raheem Sterling and Memphis Depay for the top spot, via the Daily Star's Jack Watts.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

The tricky midfielder, who also plays as a forward, was a big fish in a little pond at Hoffenheim, and that won't be the case at Anfield. Adapting to the new situation won't be easy, although he showed plenty of chemistry with fellow Reds forward Philippe Coutinho during the Copa America.

Firmino should find his best form before long, and once he's gotten used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, he should shine. But that may take a while, and as Garcia stated, it's important fans remember that.

Gomez's situation is different, as he has already enjoyed a fine start to his Anfield career. But given his young age, it seems almost inevitable that, at some point, he will start making mistakes. The full-back position is a tricky one to master, and Gomez has spent the bulk of his career as a centre-back, not split out wide.

Fans are gushing over his performances―as they should―but for now, some reservations are in order. A sudden loss of form or a few bad performances could destroy his confidence if the expectations become too high, and that's something the club can't allow to happen.

If nurtured correctly, Gomez has the potential to be the very best left-back in the Premier League in just a couple of years, so making sure he fulfils those lofty expectations has to be a priority at this point.

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