Liverpool now have two candidates to be their starting right winger this season heading into deadline day
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Liverpool fans hoping for a new right winger to be signed this summer look likely to be let down by their recruitment team.The Reds have had months to plan for Mohamed Salah’s eventual departure, but despite the time and vast resources at their disposal, Richard Hughes and co have decided to do the bare minimum.After news filtered through that Bradley Barcola is likely to be Liverpool‘s final signing of the window, fans are left facing the reality of two players featuring in an unnatural position as Andoni Iraola’s only real options to play on the right wing. Which incomings and outgoings do you want to see at Liverpool by Tuesday’s deadline?
Time is quickly running out on another underwhelming summer at Anfield… Photo Credit: Getty Images/Sarah Stier/FIFA Cody Gakpo and Victor Munoz are Liverpool’s right wingersDuring the final stages of pre-season, and indeed during the first game of the campaign at Newcastle, Iraola chose to play Rio Ngumoha from the right.However, the 18-year-old did not really look comfortable at all, and it would be a shame to see him shunted out in a move which could harm his development.Victor Munoz has looked much more lively in that position – and even scored from a right-sided berth during Saturday’s draw against Nottingham Forest.The Spaniard does not appear to have been signed with a role on the right specifically in mind, but he can clearly play it with pace and a direct style, which are both things that Salah could not offer last season.READ MORE: Bradley Barcola explains why Liverpool were the only club he wanted after sealing £106m move from PSGMunoz went from the left on Saturday, and that is where he has played most of his football up until now. But with Barcola expected to dominate over that side, Munoz now has a real opportunity to force his way into the starting XI on the right.In the meantime, Cody Gakpo is now reported to be staying at Liverpool after the Reds failed to find a suitable replacement for the Dutchman.Interestingly, Gakpo played from the right on Saturday, and though this felt like a nod to Barcola coming to take his spot at the time, it could become a more permanent arrangement.Though he hasn’t played the position all that often, 27-year-old largely did well, even assisting Alexander Isak with a classic piece of wing play which saw him go down the outside on his stronger right foot.Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty ImagesWith Liverpool fans so used to seeing Gakpo cutting in on that foot from the opposite wing, it was nice to see him be effective in that way.The Reds valued Gakpo at a princely £85m this summer, and that should possibly give him the edge over Munoz here.
After what he served up last season as a regular starter, fans may be loathe to see Gakpo stay in the starting XI, but the truth is that he has begun the season in very good form, and he does look to have grasped what Iraola wants from him.As a result, we’d have the No. It may not be ideal and it certainly isn’t what supporters were hoping for when the window opened, but Liverpool do still have players who can make a difference on the right side.