Jermaine Pennant has now joined Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in questioning why Arne Slot is selecting Cody Gakpo ahead of Rio Ngumoha.
Liverpool lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday evening, dealing a blow to their Champions League hopes.
It was a poor display all round, yet as has become commonplace in recent matches, Rio Ngumoha, who replaced Cody Gakpo, was the brightest spark.
Whose performance concerned you the most against Wolves?
Some utterly abject displays
Jermaine Pennant demands Cody Gakpo be dropped for Rio Ngumoha
Following the match, former Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant has become the latest name to question the use of Gakpo and the 17-year-old Academy product.
He wrote on X: “Also, Rio now must start on Friday night, AGAIN did more than Gakpo when he came on then what Gakpo did the whole game, you know why he did more, cos he goes to the byline, he cuts inside, he’s not predictable. WHY on earth isn’t Slot telling him? If every single fan [is] thinking it.”
Liverpool fans also questioned why Ngumoha isn’t playing more during the defeat to Wolves, after the teenager nearly scored before being denied by Jose Sa.
However, Pennant and the Reds faithful are not the only ones to call out Gakpo’s poor form in recent weeks.
Surely he can’t be serious?
Were there any positives to take from such a turgid late defeat?
Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard agree Cody Gakpo not doing enough
Speaking after the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest late last month, Carragher stated that Ngumoha did more than Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.
He stated: “What I will say is, there was a player who came on for Liverpool, Rio Nguomha, who came on in the 77th minute.
“He did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo had done up until that point. He absolutely changed the game, and he needs more of an opportunity; he does, he needs to start starting games.”
Then, following the Wolves game, Gerrard also questioned Gakpo while demanding Ngumoha play more.
He said: “For 65 minutes [before Rio was brought on], Liverpool were desperate tonight. Didn’t create enough, they didn’t play at the right speed or tempo, they didn’t have enough quality.
“He [Slot] has to start Ngumoha now, he has to start him because he’s coming on and he’s doing more in a short cameo, in a short space of time than Gakpo’s doing in 65-70 minutes. He deserves a start now. You’ve got to start the kid on Friday night.”
The consensus is now clear: Gakpo should be dropped for Ngumoha, but whether Slot actually makes that call this Friday when Liverpool take on Wolves again remains to be seen.
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