3 weeks ago
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Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk couldn't resist a cheeky dig at teammate Joe Gomez during a challenging training drill.
The pair, who once formed a rock-solid center-back duo as the Reds clinched the title under Jurgen Klopp in 2020, have seen their on-pitch partnership disrupted. Gomez's progress has been hampered by injuries and the arrival of Ibrahima Konate in 2021.
Despite this, and rumors of a potential departure amidst Liverpool's search for defensive reinforcements, Gomez remains the longest-serving player at the club since his 2015 arrival and is a respected senior figure within the squad. Especially after the sale of Jarell Quansah impacted his future.
Nonetheless, his status didn't save him from some light-hearted mockery from Van Dijk during an exercise where one partner drops a stick for the other to catch mid-air. In footage shared by Liverpool, Gomez is seen fumbling the catch, prompting Van Dijk to tease him.
Gomez reminded his captain, "This is on camera by the way."
After finally managing to catch the stick, Gomez attempts to turn the tables on Van Dijk, only to find that the Dutchman, ever the professional, catches it effortlessly every time, leaving Gomez unable to return the banter he had endured.
The video not only provides a glimpse into the camaraderie between the two defenders but also highlights their tight-knit relationship, which Van Dijk spoke about in 2024, detailing his bond with the England international.
"I think the closest I am at the moment is Joe Gomez," he shared. "We've been through everything together here at the club, highs and lows and you know we are very close to each other."
Gomez has also opened up about Van Dijk's impact since the Dutchman took over as captain in the summer of 2023.
"I'm incredibly happy for him," Gomez revealed to The Anfield Wrap in 2024. "I can't put it into words. I know what it means for him, and I really get to see the inside and how things sometimes are tough.
"The little things that people might not see in a training ground when you need to make decisions or enforce moments when it's like, 'Lads, we need to be better at this' or it might be timekeeping, it might be different things that you don't want to slip out of place.
"Virg has done it in his own way, and it's made him even more appreciated amongst us as a team. His ability speaks for itself; he's the best at what he does, he's the best in the world and probably the best the club has ever had in that position."
Gomez nearly parted ways with the club last summer. He was omitted from Arne Slot's squad at the start of the season due to uncertainty surrounding his future and didn't make his first Premier League appearance until the end of September.
The 28-year-old started 11 of his 17 appearances, nine of which were in the league. However, misfortune struck Gomez again as a hamstring injury sidelined him for most of the second half of the Reds' Premier League-winning campaign.
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