Liverpool supporters are urging manager Arne Slot to make a tough decision regarding his starting lineup after their 2-1 victory in the Merseyside derby.
On Saturday, the reigning Premier League champions hosted rivals Everton at Anfield in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season. Similar to their midweek Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, Liverpool quickly went 2-0 up thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike. However, Everton hit back with a well-taken goal from Idrissa Gueye shortly after the break, setting up a tense second half.
Despite Liverpool holding on to secure their sixth consecutive win of the season, fans were left frustrated with one player’s performance. Many have taken to social media calling for Slot to drop Cody Gakpo from the starting XI, arguing that both Ekitike and recent record signing Alexander Isak should start together in attack.
With Isak still building match fitness following his debut earlier in the week, Slot opted for his usual attacking trio of Gakpo, Ekitike, and Mohamed Salah. But after Gakpo’s underwhelming display, some supporters have called for him to be benched.
One fan wrote on X: “We need to find a way to play both Hugo and Isak. Gakpo doesn’t suit our current style.”
Another added: “Gakpo is clearly the weakest link in this strong Liverpool team. With Isak fully fit and Ekitike performing well, Hugo should start on the wing instead.”
A third simply posted: “Gakpo… I’m trying, brother. I really am.”
Ahead of the match, Slot acknowledged that he’s thought about dropping Gakpo to accommodate both of his new attacking talents. He said:
“I’ve considered it—just like many things.
If both players are in top form, it’s certainly an option. But we mainly play a 4-3-3, although late in games we’ve used two strikers. Hugo is also capable of playing from the left, which gives us flexibility. Depending on fitness and form, we can even switch to a 4-4-2.”
Leave a Reply