Joe Gomez signs new six-year deal with Liverpool

Joe Gomez’s anguish with a six-week injury lay-off has been eased with a new six-year Liverpool contract.

Gomez has signed a deal keeping him at Anfield until 2024, a fitting reward for a young defender who has excelled for club and country over the last 12 months.

The 21-year-old has proven one of the most astute signings of the Fenway Sports Group era, moving to Liverpool from Charlton Athletic for just £3.5 million in the summer of 2015.

His value has soared ever since, only a series of unfortunate injuries halting rapid progress. Prior to his latest setback he was established alongside Virgil Van Dijk at the heart of a defence which is currently among the meanest in Liverpool’s rich history.

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It is also a reflection of Gomez’s immense progress in the past 12 months his new deal is an extension on his last which was only signed in 2017.

Since then he has been elevated from occasional back-up at full-back to full international. But for an injury at the end of last season he would have been in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad. He is sure to be the first choice centre-back for his country for the foreseeable future.

Gomez’s reward should improve his mood as he faces a frustrating Christmas on the sidelines, his absence a significant blow given Liverpool's daunting schedule with Premier League games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in the next few weeks.

Liverpool are hoping Dejan Lovren will be recovered from concussion to face to Napoli in the club’s must win Champions League fixture on Tuesday night.