Liverpool are getting a hidden lead from the Europa League that could turn three players
ECHO takes a closer look at three players who could benefit the most from the Europa League next season
By Thursday evening, Liverpool’s fate in next season’s Europa League could be official.
Jurgen Klopp and his players have fought their way to three of the last five Champions League finals and are now relying on Manchester United to lose their last two Premier League games of the season to have any chance of returning next season to participate in the European. Cup.
United need just one point from their last few games – at home to Chelsea and Fulham – to officially assign their arch-rivals to the European secondary league for the first time since 2016. .
The Champions League remains football’s most prestigious and lucrative competition and an absence from it will be difficult for Liverpool, given both its recent history and long-standing heritage in the tournament. However, with a final in nearby Dublin and a chance to lift the only trophy Klopp has escaped during his time on Merseyside, the Europa League still has plenty to offer those whose glasses are half full.
This potentially includes a handful of players whose return to the Liverpool squad could build on regular time in the competition next season. Here, ECHO looks at three actors who could benefit the most.
Joe Gomez
After playing alongside Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool’s historic 2019/20 title season – making 28 Premier League appearances and 43 in total – it’s been a tough three years for Joe Gomez for the most part.
A serious and career-threatening knee injury suffered while on duty in England in November 2020 can be seen as the main cause of the problems that have emerged since then. This limited him to just seven league appearances the following season before returning to a side that had signed Ibrahima Konate and had once again fit and energetic Van Dijk alongside Joel Matip, injury-free.
As a result, Gomez played just 15 league games in two seasons before the start of this season when Liverpool’s general form plummeted. What might come as a surprise is that the former Charlton Athletic youngster has made more Premier League appearances than Konate and Matip this season, even though the former established himself as Van Dijk’s partner when he is fit for Klopp.
For a player whose time at Liverpool predates Klopp, Gomez turned 26 on Tuesday and signed a five-year contract less than 12 months ago, while the club was still reeling from last season’s incredible performances. Despite his experience, the Londoner still has many miles ahead of him. There has been talk of Gomez’s ability to play at both full-back and centre-back, making him a valuable option for Anfield’s new way of playing defense, as Trent Alexander-Arnold is given more freedom to move in midfield when he comes on at stake. He is.
A string of consistent Europa League appearances could give Gomez a chance to rediscover the kind of pace and momentum that he simply hasn’t been able to build to 2020 levels for a variety of reasons.
However, Bajcetic has assured that he will be considered a member of the first team from the summer as Klopp is about to refurbish an engine room department that will not have James Milner, Naby Keita or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at its disposal. the next term. A run in the Europa League looks like the perfect time and place for Bajcetic to resume his strong rise.
Starts against Everton, Newcastle and Chelsea this season have shown Klopp has more than faith in the teenager, but his already meteoric rise could continue in the European sub-league. Darwin Nunez
Fifteen goals in his debut season in English football is a more than respectable win for Darwin Nunez, but the Uruguayan forward has been sidelined more often in recent months.
A shoulder injury sustained in the 5-2 defeat at Real Madrid meant he missed the visit to Crystal Palace, while more recently he missed the last two games with a toe injury.
When Klopp is in place, however, he has often preferred to use the former Benfica from the bench, after Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz were back in place. Nunez has started just three of his last 11 games.
The current language barrier and the need to understand the defensive side of the game are two aspects holding Nunez back to some extent, according to his manager, but the lack of minutes and loss of pace as a result have also left the striker with £64million hampered at times this season, despite his good scoring return. Knowing he is ready to take the lead for next European season could help him realize his undisputed and clear potential for the new season.