Martin Keown has yet again been one of the first in line to praise Joe Gomez after another accomplished display from the Liverpool man.
The defender impressed on international duty on Saturday as he was handed a start in England’s UEFA Nations League defeat to Spain.
Gomez was recently rewarded for his outstanding start to the season with another call-up to Gareth Southgate’s senior Three Lions squad.
His Wembley outing marked his first appearance since March’s 1-0 friendly win over the Netherlands, which saw him hobble off with an injury that would eventually shatter his World Cup hopes.
The 21-year-old lined up in place of Kyle Walker on the right of England’s back three, showcasing his ability to step out of defence as a reliable distributor.
“Gomez played well and only confirmed that he is a Rolls-Royce defender,” Keown wrote for the Daily Mail.
“He was the most accurate passer in the team. The next step is to become a domineering figure not afraid to point the finger at team-mates.”
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Gomez has flourished at centre-back besides Virgil van Dijk across Liverpool’s unbeaten start, taking full advantage of Dejan Lovren’s injury absence.
It seems his transition into his preferred central role on a permanent basis is finally underway having predominantly shared the workload with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back last season.
The Englishman notably started his Anfield career at left-back under Brendan Rodgers after arriving from Charlton Athletic in summer 2015.
A combination of positional changes and a season-ending knee injury across his three years at the club help underline his remarkable rise.
Keown recently claimed he and Van Dijk have the potential to become one of the greatest centre-back pairings in Premier League history courtesy of their combined composure, athleticism and leadership.
Both Liverpool and England may have found themselves a starting centre-back for years to come.