Wayne Rooney highlights exactly why Cody Gakpo must not return to Liverpool's starting XI - opinion

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Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say Jeremie Frimpong deserves a mention for opening the game up with a lovely assist for Ryan Gravenberch, but his overall performance was eclipsed by fellow full-back Milos Kerkez.Kerkez has been steadily improving after a tough start as Liverpool’s regular left-back and he continued that with a dogged display against Wolves. As Wayne Rooney has outlined, this is not a coincidence.Florian Wirtz strikes up Milos Kerkez partnershipGakpo’s insistence on cutting in from the left onto his right foot has definitely hindered Kerkez’s effectiveness in attack this season.

Even Slot himself has publicly alluded to this.But with the Dutchman out of the side over the past three Premier League matches, Kerkez has really arrived at the party.Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Nico Schlotterbeck has Liverpool fans scrambling after Reds-related post on social mediaInstead of Gakpo he has been playing behind Wirtz, who has nominally taken up position on the left of the Liverpool attack, with licence to drift infield.As Rooney outlined for BBC Match of the Day on Saturday night, Kerkez and Wirtz have struck up an understanding which has already begun to bear fruit for Liverpool.“He was really impressive today, he took up some great positions,” the Man United legend said on Wirtz. “He was going out wide, he was coming into the middle of the pitch and he’s starting to get a really good understanding with Kerkez.

Is he playing better because Cody Gakpo has been missing… Photo Credit: Jan Kruger/Getty Images 👇 Join the debate; share your insight. The understanding he’s getting with Kerkez is really good.”Liverpool must stick with Kerkez and WirtzAfter Gakpo returned for the final minutes of Saturday’s match, Slot will no doubt be tempted to start him for the visit of Leeds of Thursday.But while it is a boost to have the 26-year-old available once again, the Liverpool head coach must resist the urge to throw his countryman straight back in.Pass AccuracyChances CreatedSuccessful DribblesTackles Duels WonMilos Kerkez vs Wolves95%12/347/14Clearly, Gakpo’s absence is not a reason – certainly not a sole reason – for Liverpool’s improvement in recent weeks.