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Arne Slot has been told Cody Gakpo is receiving too much game time despite being the Liverpool winger being inconsistent with his performances.
Liverpool and Leeds meet in the Premier League this weekend, but parts of the Dutchman's lineup have grown increasingly predictable. The Reds are still chasing consistency after a frustrating midweek draw with Sunderland halted the momentum they had gained from last weekend’s win over West Ham.
As a result, Slot remains firmly under the spotlight, and supporters are becoming irritated with his choices. One of the most debated spots in his current XI is the left-wing role.
Despite grabbing a goal and an assist against the Hammers last weekend, Cody Gakpo was still labeled frustrating by supporters.
He remains a consistent starter, but Jermaine Pennant noted on the Wildcards podcast that Gakpo has become too predictable, often cutting inside in the same way.
Pennant said: “How are you not making these changes? How about play Gakpo off because he’s so predictable.
"He doesn’t go down the line. If there’s a man, if a man’s holding him up, he’s just going to come inside, play to one of the midfielders or try and shoot.”
Gakpo’s displays have been inconsistent at times this season, yet Slot continues to select him almost every week. So far in the 2025/26 campaign, the former PSV forward has accumulated 1,441 minutes in all competitions.
Only four Liverpool players have clocked more time on the pitch. Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai lead the way with 1,800 minutes each, followed by Ibrahima Konate (1,672), Mohamed Salah (1,524), and then Gakpo.
Slot criticized the winger’s performance on Wednesday, but whether that prompts a change for the Leeds match remains unclear. “In my opinion, Cody struggled to dominate the one-v-ones," said Slot.
“If you want to have any chance against, like I said, they were pressing high, but also in multiple situations they were in a low block, [so] the way to score is quite simple: you need a moment of magic from a player, or you need a set-piece to score.”
Another selection choice that is frustrating Reds fans is Federico Chiesa. Chiesa arrived at Liverpool a year ago but has made just one Premier League start — and that was last season, after the title had already been secured.
Despite offering bright cameos from the bench and contributing five direct goal involvements in all competitions, he has still struggled to force his way into the starting XI.
He featured as a substitute in Wednesday’s draw with Sunderland, producing a crucial, goal-saving clearance late on to stop the Black Cats from stealing the win.
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