BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks believes Joe Gomez must be included England's World Cup squad after picking the Liverpool defender in his team of the week following his superb performance in the 1-0 home win over Manchester City.
Gomez was one of three Reds who earned a place in the weekly Crooks line-up. James Milner rightly earned his place at right-back for a performance that utilised every bit of his experience, while Mohamed Salah's wonderful winning goal was enough to see him take a place on the right-wing.
But in a resolute defensive performance all-round - one that was enough to keep Erling Haaland from scoring for just the second league game this season - Gomez took all the major plaudits. The former Charlton Athletic man was expected to start at right-back, but an injury to Ibrahima Konate pushed him into his more natural centre-back role alongside Virgil van Dijk. Despite a last-minute move across, Gomez was exceptional, and Crooks believes his performance makes him a shoe-in for Gareth Southgate's England squad next month.
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"If there was a player you might have targeted to be the weak link in Liverpool's defensive line up against City it would almost certainly have been Joe Gomez," Crooks wrote on BBC Sport. "He wasn't expected to start the game in the first place but more importantly, struggled with his form this season.
"Man City dominated much of this encounter but at no time did they dominate Gomez. The defender looked backed to his focused and committed best. In fact, the game brought out the best in the England defender and on this form is a must for Qatar."
City constructed 49% of their attacks down the right, compared to just 29% on the left, according to WhoScored.com. But in Milner and Gomez, the City attack found a red wall.
Crooks described 36-year-old Milner's performance against the in-form Foden as 'extraordinary', adding that the veteran midfielder's evergreen talents are a once in a generation quality.
And while the defensive side of Liverpool's game was the standout at Anfield, it was Salah's goal that ultimately won it for Jurgen Klopp's side. The Egyptian had a similar effort brilliantly saved by Ederson, but made no mistake in rolling Joao Cancelo to latch onto a trademark Alisson pass before scooping the ball over the City goalkeeper and into the net.
Reds fans would have hoped that Wednesday's six-minute hat-trick at Rangers would inject some confidence into Salah, and if Sunday's scintillating performance is anything to go by then they will have had their wishes granted.
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