Liverpool face battle to keep hold of defender as star becomes frustrated at falling down pecking order

Liverpool were left frustrated by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as the Lilywhites held them to a 2-2 draw, although the Reds maintained pressure on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. 

After Harry Kane had put the hosts ahead, goals from Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson turned the game on its head, before Heung-Min Son equalised shortly after to rescue a point for Antonio Conte’s side.

The result kept Liverpool within three points of leaders City, while Chelsea are three points further back in third.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have made a much-improved start to this season compared to last term, when injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez triggered a premature end to the club’s title charge.

This year, the return of Van Dijk, and performances of his defensive partner Joel Matip, have been crucial to the Reds’ success although it has come at some expense to Gomez.

The Englishman is now fourth choice centre-back for Klopp, and it appears he is growing frustrated at his lack of game time.

Two of Gomez’ three starts this season have been in the Carabao Cup

As per The Mail, Real Madrid are now monitoring the Englishman, with a view to making an offer for the player in the summer.

The La Liga giants are reportedly targeting a central defender, and have identified Gomez as a suitable candidate to bolster their backline.

Gomez is yet to start a Premier League game so far this season and has played just 12 minutes of top flight football, seemingly leaving him behind Ibrahima Konate in the pecking order.

The 24-year-old had been linked with a move to Aston Villa in January, however Klopp has ruled out a mid-season departure for the defender, insisting that he will be of use to him in the second-half of the campaign.

Gomez is likely to see his playing time increase in January, when Matip travels to compete in the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon.

Madrid have reportedly also included Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger on their shortlist for the summer, with the German set to be out of contract and potentially available on a free.