'Gomez form has not surprised me'
Liverpool assistant manager Sean O'Driscoll had advance notice of the talent the Reds were recruiting when they signed defender Joe Gomez this summer.
The No.12 had only just celebrated his 18th birthday before a move from Charlton Athletic to Anfield was arranged in June.
But his performances in pre-season were of a maturity beyond his teenage years and any consideration of a loan out was discarded by Brendan Rodgers.
Such was his impact, Gomez was named in the starting line-up for the season opener at Stoke City and impressed again as Liverpool recorded a clean sheet and victory.
O’Driscoll had previously worked with the Englishman at youth international level and has now revealed why what’s unfolded since his Merseyside arrival comes as little surprise.
“I saw Joe as a fantastic 17-year-old when I first came across him,” he said.
“He played against Germany in Dusseldorf for the U19s – playing up an age group, which is part of the FA remit to bump talented players up and play them.
“His composure struck me. That doesn’t happen many times in football where you sit and go ‘ooohhh’. There are lots of good players out there but very few who make your back straighten. He was one.
“When we reviewed that game against Germany, Joe’s performance at centre-back was the big standout for me.
“He’s been terrific since he came to Liverpool and I’ve not been surprised.
“I’d seen him play in various positions across the backline for Charlton. When I was chatting about players in my England U19s squad, he was one I was surprised that no Premier League club had come in for him.”