Rio Ngumoha’s time is now - but is Cody Gakpo as much of a problem as Liverpool fans make out?

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Independent or go back to LFC Live.

The Dutch winger has started 29 out of his 35 appearances in all competitions under his countryman this term and boasts most minutes of any forward in the Liverpool squad.Ngumoha’s cameo at Forest has once again stoked criticism against Slot’s selection choices vis-a-vis Gakpo, deemed a blockage to the pathway a late-summer transfer decision was meant to provide for the youngster. His trademark strategy - cut in from the left and shoot with his right - has become painfully predictable from a viewing perspective and a simple test for any professional right-back who has studied his match footage.Gakpo's 'cut in and shoot' move has become painfully predictable (Getty Images)Persistence would be justified by results but, on the surface, results are non-existent.

With only a handful of strikes to his name, it’s therefore no surprise that Gakpo is underperforming his xG, whose end product has a lot to be desired. But for what it’s worth, at least he’s getting into positions where he can pull the trigger.Gakpo does force the issue even if his end product isn't there (Getty Images)Moreover, Gakpo possesses a role in Slot’s setup that is crucial to build-up.

The former Chelsea youngster has that spark that Liverpool fans have yearned for since last summer’s departure of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, who despite his own finishing shortfalls offered a wow factor that Gakpo does not.Rio Ngumoha impressed off the bench against Nottingham Forest (Getty)However, the burden of a role that Gakpo is clearly struggling in could be too much for a player in the embryonic stages of his senior career. It’s obvious he now has something to fix.