England's Joe Gomez during the UEFA Nations League, League A Group Four match at Wembley Stadium, London (Adam Davy/PA Wire/PA Images)

Joe Gomez impresses as England beat Spain in UEFA Nations League

Joe Gomez was one of the star performers as England produced a shock 3-2 win away to Spain on Monday night.

Gomez came into the Three Lions side at the expense of John Stones, as he hoped to continue the form that has arguably seen him impress at the heart of Liverpool’s defence at the start of the season.

Jordan Henderson missed the League A Group 4 clash through suspension, while Trent Alexander-Arnold began proceedings on the bench before coming on for the final five minutes.

Former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling, so often the subject of criticism in an England shirt, fired Gareth Southgate’s side into a 16th-minute lead.

Marcus Rashford scored a shock second before the half-hour mark, with Gomez cutting a classy figure alongside Harry Maguire.

Sterling then added a third goal, sending Gomez and his teammates in at the break with a sizeable lead nobody saw coming.

As Spain tried desperately to respond early in the second half, Liverpool’s in-form centre-back made a crucial block to deny Real Madrid prodigy Marco Asensio.

Paco Alcacer reduced the arrears eventually and Jordan Pickford then almost got robbed in Alisson-esque fashion, having attempted a Cruyff Turn.

Alexander-Arnold was introduced as an 85th-minute substitute and he helped England see the game out, despite Sergio Ramos netting with the last touch of the game.

Gomez again cemented his status as one of the best defenders in the country and his reputation carries on soaring.

He also came through the game unscathed fitness-wise and being part of such a performance can only be good for the 21-year-old’s confidence and big-match experience.

Earlier in the day, Jurgen Klopp had learned that he could be without Sadio Mane this weekend after the Senegalese broke a bone in his hand.

Mohamed Salah is also a doubt, but Virgil van Dijk should be fit, according to Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman.

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