Joe Gomez relishing life at Liverpool

Courteous, relaxed and happy to answer any question, Joe Gomez comes across as someone with years of experience at handling television interviews. In fact, he has very little.

But it shouldn't surprise anyone that the 18 year old wasn't intimidated by the media glare off the pitch when we met up at Melwood this week, because he has handled the spotlight on it with great composure.

Of all the arrivals during a summer of considerable transfer activity, Gomez was probably the least celebrated, yet he has settled in quickest of all. Despite his early chance coming on the left side of defence, a creative centre-back is how he describes himself - with an emphasis on playing just as much as defending.

"I wouldn't say I model myself on anyone, but I've always looked at centre-backs and the ones I try and take a mould of are the ball-playing ones, like Rio Ferdinand," he says.

"I like them being comfortable on the ball and playing it along the back. Brendan Rodgers always wants us to be on the ball and play out when we can. It's something I need to work on and the fact that it's the style of the team helps."

The move to Merseyside, and all that has come with it, seems to have happened so quickly for the youngster, who only started to hold down a first-team place at the Valley earlier this year.

"From the midway point of last season I started playing regularly for Charlton and it sprung from there really," says Gomez. "It was my Dad and the people who represent me who did it all. Initially, I wasn't really involved in any transfer talk as we decided I wouldn't get involved in all of that.

I've always looked at centre backs and the ones I try and take a mould of are the ball playing ones like Rio Ferdinand

"And then towards the end of the season we sat down and had a chat about moving. Once the season ended I met Brendan Rodgers and it went from there. I got a feel for the club when I came to the training ground for the first time and got a sense of the tradition of the place. But the main thing that made up my mind about coming here was the concept of playing young players that the manager told me about."

Rodgers' words were enough to convince Gomez that his future lay at Anfield - despite plenty of interest from other Premier League clubs. "I didn't want to come to a place where I had minimal opportunity of playing," he explains. "It was all a risk really, the question of whether or not I'd play. I knew, with the quality here, there was a possibility of me going out on loan, so I was ready for that, but coming here and getting the opportunity from the manager to play in the team has been a big bonus."

Gomez admits that leaving home for the first time was a daunting prospect, but he has embraced his early months in Liverpool and intends to take himself out of the bubble that many young professional footballers inhabit.

"As well as on the pitch it's been a big change off it, leaving my family. I've always had a close group of friends supporting me too, so to leave all that back in London has been a big change," he adds.

"But the club and everyone around me has made it easy for me settling in. I've been out in the city and had a look at a few places, I wouldn't say I know my way around yet, but I've seen bits and bobs. You've got to get a balance, I can't just come into training and then go home. I've got to get about and have a look at the city."

He has had little time to take in his new surroundings in the past couple of weeks after playing in both of England's U21s recent victories. Backing his adaptability, manager Gareth Southgate played the defender at right back in both matches as England kept a pair of clean sheets. Such versatility can come with drawbacks, but the experience served Gomez well. Throughout our interview it was clear he is keen to learn at every opportunity.

If he is given a first-team place on Saturday then the opportunity for further development will come in the toughest surroundings of all. The intensity of the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United fans often spills onto the pitch and these can be ill-tempered matches, tests of mental fortitude.

But Gomez doesn't come across as the type to get carried away by the occasion. "I haven't really had the chance to sit back and look at what has gone on, but I don't try and do that sort of thing anyway," he says.

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"It's so early on in the season, I'm aware I've only made a couple of appearances, so there's no need for me to get ahead of myself. Whether I'm involved or not it's another opportunity for me to learn really."

Watch the full Joe Gomez interview on Soccer Saturday from midday on Sky Sports News HQ and on Sky Go, iPad and On Demand