Martin Keown is further convinced that Joe Gomez can be polished into a star figure for both club and country after another superb display for Liverpool.
The 21-year-old retained his starting spot at centre-back for a fourth successive game on Saturday as the Reds extended their winning run with victory against Leicester.
Gomez was yet again formidable alongside Virgil van Dijk, with the pair having teased early signs of gelling as a long-term partnership at the heart of defence.
Keown is known to be an avid admirer of Gomez and has been calling for Jurgen Klopp to use the former Charlton star centrally since before Christmas last season.
Speaking on Match of the Day, the former Arsenal man said: “He is a real talent, Gary. Today he was better than Van Dijk and that is some compliment to him. A real talent.”
“His mobility, the way that he floats across the pitch, of course he’s got to be able to pass the ball now.”
“They’re servers now [the Liverpool centre backs] for this front three, you’ve got to be able to punch the ball – yes he can do that. He has the technique, he has the vision.”
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Gomez’s display included a stunning last-ditch block to deny James Maddison as the Leicester playmaker was winding up for a shot after wriggling beyond Van Dijk.
It evidenced not only his intelligence to read the passage of the move, but also the athleticism to get back having previously been too tight to Demarai Gray in the build up.
Well-cultured composure and grace as a distributor is now being crucially complimented by an added vigour and physicality to his aerial duels and ball retrieval.
His fine start to the campaign has already earned him a well-deserved call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for September’s UEFA Nations League clash with Spain.