Liverpool central defender Joe Gomez has lifted the lid on mental health issues and how he had to overcome a series of injury problems.
The 26-year-old suffered long-term injuries which kept him out of action for long periods of time as he struggled to force his way back to Jurgen Klopp’s side within the last three years.
Gomez was a key cog of the Liverpool team that won the Premier League title in 2019/20, forming a rock-solid partnership with Virgil van Dijk.
The pair won 23 of 28 appearances while helping to keep 13 clean sheets as the Reds suffered only two defeats in the entire campaign.
“The injuries I had were rough at times. I think the first one caught me at a vulnerable time when I had just come up to Liverpool. I was only 18 and had just moved up by myself so it was tough in a sense that I was like on a new journey, living by myself and dealing with that,” Gomez told Jacamo and CALM ahead of helping to launch a new line of Adidas activewear.
“Once I got injured, I had a lot of spare time,” he continued. “I think that’s the biggest thing you notice as a player, that when you’re on the pitch training you don’t have time to be thinking, you’re just in your subconscious enjoying the game.
“But I used that experience. I had a couple of little injuries and then my last one with my hamstring,” sustained against Real Madrid in February this year, “was a big one and sort of did rock my world.”
“It made me up my appreciation. Once I got back into football, I had other battles with worrying about my body and things that I couldn’t control aside from doing the work I needed to do. It’s just appreciation and being thankful that I can do what I still do.
“I am drawing on to that to keep me motivated to still do my gym sessions, even when we come back from an away game. I just remember in those moments where it was tough, aside from that, just enjoying it.”
Gomez featured in all of Liverpool’s pre-season games and made his first appearance this season against Bournemouth last weekend after coming off the bench.
Read More Liverpool Coverage:
- Watch Liverpool 3-1 Bournemouth Highlights – Reds Get Vital Win Despite Mac Allister’s Harsh Sending Off
- Jurgen Klopp Has Given An Injury Update After The Bournemouth Game
- Liverpool Vs Bournemouth Player Ratings; Front Three On Target As Reds Gain Three Points
- BREAKING: Liverpool to Sign Midfielder Wataru Endo for £15million
- Report: Fiorentina Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat Is Close To Joining Liverpool
- Report: Cheick Doucoure And Boubacar Kamara Are Admired By Liverpool
- Report: Liverpool Expected To Try For Bayern Munich Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch