Arne Slot must reward Liverpool star Jurgen Klopp 'couldn't respect more'

face their toughest test of the new-look yet against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen tonight (8pm). Win and the Reds move another sizeable step closer towards automatic qualification into the knockout rounds.

Only the top eight seal automatic progress, while 9th to 24th go into a play-off round to make up the other eight last-16 sides. With nine points from nine, and the 24th-ranked side Girona - who Liverpool play in Spain next month - on three, it would take a spectacular collapse from here for the Merseyside club not to at least make the playoffs.

But getting straight into the last 16 would allow 's side to avoid an extra two matches in February when the schedule already promises to be hectic. They would get a nice break from midweek European action between January 29 and March 4/5.

That means Slot will once more go full strength against Xabi Alonso's invincibles, who went unbeaten in the league, won the DFB Pokal and reached the Europa League final last year.

While Ibrahima Konate has against Brighton on Saturday, Slot should actually rest the Frenchman. is deserving of a start after a superb performance when replacing Konate at half-time at Anfield.

It was a rare outing at centre-back for a player who has become the new utility man post-James Milner. Much of his minutes were spent at right-back and left-back under Jurgen Klopp last year and he was ultra dependable in all roles.

Jurgen Klopp said of Gomez after an FA Cup win over Southampton last season in which he actually played in central midfield: "The real story today, besides the goals, is actually Joe Gomez. For the first time on that position, in the middle of the park with chaos around him because nothing was settled, I couldn't respect it more."

He was also a big story against Brighton. After Liverpool had struggled against the Seagulls in the first half, the 27-year-old was imperious in his 45 minutes, winning his duels and twice nearly scoring his first goal for the club.

Gomez actually almost left for Newcastle in the summer in a deal that would have taken Anthony Gordon the other way in a separate agreement. How lucky Slot - who labelled the player "a top, top, top professional" at the weekend - is that he didn't leave.

Virgil van Dijk acknowledged that post-Brighton: "With Joe I know obviously that he came from an interesting summer, but the way he has been on and off the pitch is remarkable. He's so respected within the club and the team.

"He's a fantastic player and he showed it today again. Whenever he is needed or whenever he starts he needs to be ready and like the rest of the guys. Today especially he was outstanding."

While Gomez himself said: "Obviously this is home for me and the club means everything to me. But the most important thing, it's cliche, but we got the win and we keep the momentum heading into a big game in the Champions League."

In the current squad he is the longest-serving first-team player and only Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have made more than his 231 appearances.

That number would be far higher if not for injuries but last year and this year he has rediscovered some robustness. He played 51 times last term across all three positions in defence and only three team-mates played more minutes.

Given that he's also homegrown, the England international is a very important player for Liverpool. He deserves some more recognition of that fact, and of his contributions at the weekend, with a start at centre-back against Leverkusen.