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Liverpool have struggled to keep up with the trend of long-throws which has taken hold of the Premier League this season.
The Reds have been easy targets from throw-ins into the box, regularly looking at sixes and sevens as they attempt to clear their lines.
More adept at setting his teams up to play a passing style of football, Arne Slot has often bemoaned the move towards long throws being re-introduced into the game.
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However, as the old adage goes: if you can’t beat them, join them, and after seeing that this tactical trend is not going away, Liverpool have begun to formulate their own plan from throw-ins.
As seen in the late stages of Sunday’s win over Nottingham Forest, Joe Gomez has been employed as the Reds’ nominated long throw specialist. And according to former captain Phil Thompson, that is no bad thing.
Gomez gives Liverpool another threat
Gomez had been expected to start against Forest after Slot confirmed during his Thursday press conference that the 28-year-old was ready to play once again.
However, his fitness is notoriously fragile, meaning he has to be protected as much as possible. Still, Gomez came on for the final seven minutes and immediately caused problems. Ultimately, his throws led to both Liverpool goals: one being allowed, the other disallowed.
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
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Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast after the game, Thompson insisted that it was about time the Reds began to threatening from long throws after coming under pressure from them all season long.
“The thing about it with Joe Gomez, one of the big pluses today was the long throws towards the end of the game,” he said. “As we’ve seen against us, very much a weapon.
“I think with Joe you see Virgil and Ibou going up, so they must have confidence in him to get the ball to that six-yard box. Right or wrong it adds a little bit of pressure and it causes more problems. It’s a weapon that other clubs have used so why shouldn’t we? And Joe brings that.”
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Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool need a deputy for Gomez
Although some fans will not have enjoyed seeing Gomez wind up to launch the ball long on Sunday, it is indeed time for Liverpool to use whatever weapons they have at their disposal.
However, Gomez cannot be the only specialist they call upon to send these long throw-ins hurtling into opposition boxes.
The No. 2 is rarely available, meaning Slot really needs to find somebody else who can step in when he’s off the pitch.
This is not a tactic many will want to see overly used, and it makes sense to do it later on in games, by which time Gomez is often on the pitch.
But it’s still nice for Liverpool to have this up their sleeve whenever they may want to use it, meaning a deputy for Gomez must be sought. After seeing the art of the long throw work in their favour on Sunday, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Slot immediately make a selection for next weekend’s clash with West Ham.
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