Why Jurgen Klopp has to start Joe Gomez against Crystal Palace

Scotland skipper Andy Robertson is out for Liverpool’s trip to Selhurst Park this Saturday.

And with Mo Salah also recovering from an injury that’s likely to keep him out of the squad, it is looking like potentially the Reds’ toughest fixture so far this season. And that’s a commendable feat considering they’ve visited Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, and played host to Tottenham and Manchester City.

Crystal Palace have always been a threat to the Reds, or so it seems in Liverpool’s terms. But in their six, now seventh season in the Premier League, only once have they beaten Liverpool at Selhurst Park – a 3-1 defeat in November 2014, where Dwight Gayle, Joe Ledley and Mile Jedinak countered an early opener from Rickie Lambert.

Barring that though only ‘Crystanbul’, the infamous comeback in 13/14, blemishes Liverpool’s record at Selhurst Park since the Eagles’ return to the top flight. It’s always a fight though, and only twice have the Reds won by more than one goal – a 2-0 win in August 2018, and a 4-2 win in 2016.

But the game I most want to focus on actually occurred at Anfield in January 2019. Liverpool won the game. 4-3 in fact, with Palace coming as close as anyone to taking three points from the Red’s fortress.

The Reds lined up with a back four of Robertson, Matip, Van Dijk and Milner.

The last thing I want to do is disrespect James Milner – tactically and stamina wise he is one of, if not the best the Reds have in their squad. But this nous and mastermind seldom come close in direct comparison with energy and pace.

Wilfried Zaha was the man targeting Milner that day, and tore him to shreds. Performing to a high level, but being allowed to. It is likely to be the Ivorian, Jordan Ayew and Andros Townsend lining up on the weekend at Selhurst Park. Milner would be left for dead by all three – with a difference being that they can all create and finish competently to compliment their physical prowess.

When you clicked on the article, you might’ve expected me to be calling for Dejan Lovren’s head – but it is for tactical reasons that Joe Gomez has to play at left-back on Saturday for the Reds to fully prepare for Palace’s offensive triad.

Gomez signed for the Reds as a teenager in 2015 – and began at left-back before picking up a serious injury under Brendan Rodgers.

People often forget this when it comes to covering the back line. Gomez is competent across all three defensive positions. He hasn’t looked like a world-beater. But he has that physicality that Milner now lacks.

Gomez has had a poor start to the season in 2019/20 after the previous campaign’s success at the beginning of the season, but with a role to be played he should step up and excel at Selhurst Park.