Tuesday 25 August 2015 11:26, UK
John Arne Riise says he is "very impressed" by the exciting start young defender Joe Gomez has made to his Liverpool career.
Gomez arrived at Anfield in a £3.5m deal from Charlton over the summer and has started each of Liverpool's three Premier League games this season, playing in an unfamiliar role at left-back.
The 18-year-old was particularly impressive in the Monday Night Football clash with Arsenal where he won five tackles, made five interceptions and also completed four clearances at The Emirates.
Riise was eminently successful operating primarily at left back for Liverpool in his 348 appearances for the club stretching over seven seasons. The Norwegian won the League Cup, FA Cup, two European Super Cups as well as the Champions League in the memorable 2005 penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan in Istanbul.
And the 34-year-old, who joined Sky Sports News HQ on Monday to announce he has signed for Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos, believes Gomez has all the ingredients to be a success with the Merseysiders.
"I'm very, very impressed by Joe Gomez," Riise told Sky Sports.
"I am seriously impressed. I must admit I did not know too much about him before he came to the club but he's started every game for Liverpool this season.
"You can see that defensively he's very strong and that he is also very quick.
"I'm really excited for him and I hope he can keep his form going for himself and for Liverpool."
Gomez made 21 appearances for Charlton in the Championship and played under current Liverpool assistant boss Sean O'Driscoll during his time as England U19 manager.
He was also part of the England U17 side that won the 2014 European Championships in Malta and signed a five-year contract with Liverpool over the summer.
On Tuesday, the Catford-born teenager was called up by Gareth Southgate for the England U21 matches against USA U23s and Norway U21s at the beginning of next month.
