Arne Slot identifies common issue affecting Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah at Liverpool

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Arne Slot has pointed to a shared issue affecting Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, with the head coach highlighting a key problem impacting both attackers’ output this season

Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo have struggled this season(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot has opened up on a shared issue affecting Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah's outputs this season as the Reds return to the Molineux in the FA Cup.

Gakpo has endured a difficult spell on Liverpool’s left flank for much of the season. While there has been moments where misfortune has played a part in his struggles — highlighted by a missed chance early in the second half — there is also a sense that he has not delivered enough in key moments, with Salah's output also significantly less compared to last season

However, Liverpool was unable to regain the lead after Salah had equalized, and they were ultimately punished in stoppage time when Andre’s deflected effort found its way into the net. It comes after Virgil van Dijk seemed to direct his fury at Rio Ngumoha for the late winner.

Seventeen-year-old Ngumoha did show flashes of promise in Liverpool’s attack at times, offering a different spark going forward. The youngster struck the post with a low effort and was more willing to take on his defender than Gakpo. However Slot believes neither Salah or Gakpo are soley to blame for Liverpool's poor title defense.

"We are not in terms of chance creation last in the league" said Slot in the pre-match press conference when asked about Gakpo's performances this season. "We're not doing that bad. We're also the team with most ball possession so you'd expect us to create more.

"Cody and Mo we expect and they expect from themselves to score more. But attacking isn't just down to Cody and Mo in the same way defending isn't just down to Virgil and Ibou. Let's create even more and the goals will come.

"We are not the only team that finds it hard to create a lot of chances from open play. That is the Premier League and the opposition that we face. It is the quality of the league that makes it more difficult."

With regards to calls for Ngumoha to replace Gakpo, Slot was coy with his answer. "We have a few but we don't have 11" added the Dutchman on potential changes. "I always have options to bring in and players can bring in and let them start.

Fans have been calling for Slot to start Ngumoha over Gakpo(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

"Not for the first time this season, three days after a game where we have dropped points, I've seen us do quite a lot this season, we have to be better than we were last time."

Both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have called on Slot to start Ngumoha. Responding to Virgil van Dijk's critique of the side following the loss to Wolves, Gerrard commented on TNT Sports: "He's right because for 65 minutes, Liverpool were desperate tonight, really poor.

"[They] didn't create enough, didn't play at the right speed or the right tempo, they didn't have the right quality.

"[Slot] has to start Ngumoha now, he has to start him because he's coming on and doing more in a short cameo and in a short space of time than Gakpo is doing in 65/70 minutes. He deserves a start now. He's got the start the kid on Friday night."

"Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that," Carragher shared with Sky Sports. "He changed the game and needs to be starting games."