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Slot Defends Gakpo’s Grip on Liverpool’s Left, Says Competition Remains

The manager frames his selection as a confidence play, with alternatives still in contention.

Overview

  • Arne Slot said Cody Gakpo is not suffering from a lack of competition for the left-wing role and that others can play there.
  • Gakpo has appeared in every Premier League and Champions League match this season and ranks among Liverpool’s most-used players.
  • Slot attributed limited use of Hugo Ekitike on the left to Alexander Isak’s frequent unavailability to start.
  • Seventeen-year-old Rio Ngumoha has logged just 58 senior minutes in league and Europe, which Slot characterized as appropriate for his development.
  • Slot maintained that every player has a possibility to start, citing Federico Chiesa’s status, as recent selections have even seen Mohamed Salah left out of the starting XI twice.