Jamie Carragher slams outrageous Joe Gomez and Rio Ferdinand comparisons

Liverpool legend-turned-pundit Jamie Carragher has stressed that the comparisons of Joe Gomez with England legends Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Moore are ‘stupidly premature’. Gomez has enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season with Jurgen Klopp’s side where he has been paired alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence.

In a report covered by The Telegraph, Carragher was pleased to witness the progress of the former Charlton Athletic graduate but believes the defender has much sterner tests ahead. He added that the youngster’s comparisons with Ferdinand and World Cup-winning captain Moore are stupidly premature as he has yet to prove himself on the long-term basis.

He said: “Although he played at right-back a year ago, since assuming his favoured position Gomez has been likened to Bobby Moore and Rio Ferdinand. This is stupidly premature, over the top praise. Gomez could become a top player, but to get there he will need to overcome sterner tests than Selhurst Park and the King Power Stadium.”

“Gomez was initially expected to play a deputy role in the defensive department with Trent Alexander-Arnold “being the preferred right-back whilst“ Van Dijk was widely “expected to be paired alongside Dejan Lovren at the heart of the backline. However, some good fortune struck the Englishman after Lovren bowed out of Reds duty to nurse a pelvic problem and this has earned him the right to start each of the club’s four league games this season.

Nonetheless, Gomez has yet to face one among the elite clubs and his first major challenge may come against Tottenham Hotspur on the road this weekend. Thereafter, the Englishman may not have much room to take a breather, considering the Reds have a tough schedule until the next international break where they are set to face the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Chelsea (twice), and Manchester City.