Cody Gakpo to fear Liverpool axe after what Arne Slot just said, it might be deserved
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Credit: Imago
Harri Burton
Fri 19 September 2025 16:30, UK
Cody Gakpo might quickly find himself out of Arne Slot’s starting lineup as Liverpool prepare to face Everton at Anfield.
The talented Dutchman featured for 58 minutes as Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 in the Champions League, before being replaced by Alexis Mac Allister on Wednesday, 17 September.
He is now without a goal contribution in three straight matches, with the Reds requiring a Mohamed Salah penalty to beat Burnley before facing the La Liga giants in Europe.
Obviously, Slot’s team is still learning to play alongside each other, especially after splashing the cash on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak during the summer transfer window, but there may be too many options now.
Credit: Imago
Despite a plethora of options at Slot’s disposal, Gakpo rarely finds himself on the sidelines, featuring in the club’s last 12 competitive matches, last being dropped against West Ham in April.
With Salah in the team, it is often hard to be the most important attacker at Anfield, with Virgil van Dijk being given plenty of plaudits for his talents in the centre of defence.
With a reduction in his goal contributions and a higher number of games being hooked quite early, Gakpo might have already been fearing his position on the pitch, but he definitely will be now.
Cody Gakpo’s 12 games since being axed vs West HamGoalsAssistsLeicester City00Tottenham10Chelsea00Arsenal10Brighton00Crystal Palace01Crystal Palace00Bournemouth10Newcastle United02Arsenal00Burnley00Atletico Madrid00Total33
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Slot has been discussing the chances of Isak and Hugo Ekitike both playing in attack together, given that the latter was a big-money signing before the arrival of the former Newcastle United man.
Speaking in his press conference (BBC Sport, 19 September), Slot said: “If both of them are in the best form of their life, then you consider playing them together.
Hugo can play from the left, different from the way Cody [Gakpo] and Rio [Ngumoha] do this, and that’s the good thing about our squad.”
Ekitike has experienced a fine start to life at Anfield.
He announced himself with the opening goal against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield in front of a packed-out Wembley Stadium.
However, with Isak now part of the squad, it is becoming more and more difficult to keep all high-profile stars happy.
Given Gakpo’s drastic drop in form, he could be the one who makes way.
Ekitike notched 22 goals and 12 assists last season, and if Slot can unlock that same player at Anfield, the Reds will have yet another complete monster in the final third.