Steven Gerrard demands Arne Slot makes one change to Liverpool starting XI

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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard says Arne Slot needs to make one change to his starting XI moving forward after the Reds toiled against Wolves in the Premier League

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard says Arne Slot needs to bring Rio Ngumoha into his starting XI from now on after another underwhelming performance from Cody Gakpo.

Dutch winger Gakpo was far from the only player to misfire at Molineux as Liverpool failed to pick up any points against the Premier League's bottom side, but Gerrard called on Slot to give Ngumoha even more opportunities during his post-match analysis.

"He has to start Ngumoha now," Gerrard said on TNT Sports in the aftermath of the Reds' 2-1 defeat. "He’s doing more in a small space of time than Gakpo is doing in 60 minutes."

Seventeen-year-old Ngumoha did threaten to inject something fresh into the Liverpool attack on occasion. He hit the post with one low shot and took on his man more than Gakpo.

However, Liverpool could not find a way to get in front once Mohamed Salah had leveled and then paid the price with a deflected shot from Andre finding the back of the net in stoppage time.

"It should have gone the other way," Arne Slot insisted when speaking to BBC Match of the Day. "You’re mentioning Virgil's chance but don’t forget when Mo Salah is having a counter and both sides there are people free.

Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool is under pressure from Dilane Bakwa of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on February 22, 2026. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)

"He tried to find Dom [Szoboszlai] but someone got a foot in between. Those are moments that give a different result.

"[The goal was a] good moment for Mo; a good action. It was a bit lucky because they lost the ball in relatively simple situation.

"It was a good from open play, we have not scored that many from open play recently. We do create chances from open play, not as many as I would like, but enough to score more goals than we do."

As a result of the loss, Liverpool failed to gain ground on the teams around it in the race for the Champions League spots. Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea all play tomorrow.

"That is a concern because it is not the first time we have dropped points against teams that are in these positions," Slot said.

"But we are not the first team to drop points here; last week it was [Aston] Villa, the week before Arsenal. So they are having a good momentum.

"I don’t think if you look at this game it was not needed for us to drop points. I’ve said this many times and it did happen."