11 March 2024 , 08:35
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Jurgen Klopp called out England manager Gareth Southgate after Liverpool's thrilling draw with Manchester City on Sunday.
The game ended 1-1 after goals from John Stones and Alexis Mac Allister, leaving the title race wide open as just one point now separates Arsenal, Liverpool and City. And while speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Klopp highlighted the performance of Joe Gomez at left-back.
The versatile defender has been hugely important for Liverpool this season and Klopp has questioned why Southgate has not rewarded Gomez with more England caps. "Joe Gomez. Gareth, honestly," he said.
The 26-year-old has made 11 appearances for England, but last represented the Three Lions in 2020. And Klopp believes Gomez deserves a recall ahead of Euro 2024, with Southgate set to announce his squad for England's upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium on March 14.
"I am not standing here telling Gareth who he should pick but you can get one player and have four positions covered," he said last week. "Wonderful. If you play football at this level, there is (big) difference between centre-half, full-back, right, left, to the No 6 – and he is capable of that transition in his mind.
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"He is one of those stories. What a wonderful player he is and I am so happy he can show that again. In midfield, the game is coming from all angles. Everything changes and he has dealt with it so well, it's crazy. Really good and super-important."
Gomez has never been involved at the Euros before, having missed out in 2020 due to a serious knee injury he picked up while training with England. And in an interview with the Liverpool Echo in 2022, Gomez revealed he had held discussions with Southgate about his international future.
Gomez has not played for England since 2020 (REUTERS)"We have had conversations," he said. "Gareth is a great manager and also (assistant boss) Steve Holland has been great in communicating with me and checking in at key moments. Fundamentally club football gives you the platform to be picked and that's got to be my focus.
"It is a World Cup year, and I do feel like I have missed out on major tournaments, more so due to injuries than anything else. I watched part of the Euros, but it was hard. It hurt to not be there.
"I obviously supported the team as I did at the World Cup, but it hurt not being a part of either of those squads. I feel I could have been there. But my sole focus now is Liverpool and that can give me the platform to be picked by England."
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