Lucy Ward issues verdict on Joe Gomez display in Liverpool win

Lucy Ward was full of praise for Joe Gomez and the impact he made coming off the bench as Liverpool turned their clash with Crystal Palace around on Saturday.

Ward was speaking on TNT Sports (broadcast on 9/12; 14:18) as the Reds pushed for a late winner at Selhurst Park after a really poor first-half display.

Joe Gomez began the game on the bench. But with Jurgen Klopp’s side looking really poor in the first-half, the defender came on, replacing Wataru Endo.

Lucy Ward lauds Joe Gomez during Liverpool win

Gomez is generally seen as the better defender between him and Trent Alexander-Arnold. But it was going forward where Gomez was so impressive in the second-half against Roy Hodgson’s side.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The 26-year-old kept driving down the right-hand side and caused Palace a lot of problems. And after one of his runs into the box led to a chance for Harvey Elliott, Lucy Ward expressed how impressed she had been by his performance after coming off the bench.

“Again, Gomez has been brilliant down that right-hand side whether it’s running himself or it’s his interchange with teammates. He keeps getting the ball into the box,” she told TNT Sports.

Defender proves point as Reds turn game around

Of course, the sending off of Jordan Ayew had a major impact on the game. Liverpool equalised moments after he picked up his second yellow card. And you would think that Palace would have been very happy with a point at that stage.

However, that should take nothing away from the impact the Liverpool substitutes had. Both Gomez and Gakpo were superb on the right. And it was Harvey Elliott who scored the stoppage-time winner.

Gomez has not been a regular starter for the Reds for some time. But his display on Saturday, coupled with the freedom it gave Trent Alexander-Arnold, may leave Jurgen Klopp with food for thought.

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