Why Arne Slot is actually right not to drop Cody Gakpo despite sub-par Liverpool performances - opinion

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In Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, only Cody Gakpo was able to get onto the scoresheet for the Reds.Arne Slot’s side have now lost three games in a row in all competitions, and in their second consecutive Premier League loss, have found themselves slipping to one point behind Arsenal in the table.To pick out any standout performances for the Dutchman’s side would be very difficult, given how poor the individual performances were all around.Only Gakpo, mainly due to his goal, and Giorgi Mamardashvili, making his league debut, could be credited with having some of the best displays out of a bad bunch.While he was the only scorer for the team, the 26-year-old has still received criticisms in this game and others this season for being sub-par in games.Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesCody Gakpo has created the second most chances in the Premier League this seasonThe critiques of how the Dutch international has played in most of the games he has started have included his decision-making, but specifically his predictability when cutting inside.These issues fans have had with the player have been amplified by the fact that he has started every game for Liverpool apart from one game, where he was used as a substitute.READ MORE: Daniel Sturridge explains in detail why Luis Diaz has been a ‘massive miss’ for Liverpool this seasonQuestions surrounding him constantly starting on the left have continued but it is clear why he maintains his place.One of the main reasons is that Gakpo (14) is only second behind Bruno Fernandes (17) and Jack Grealish (17) in chances created this season.It seems unfair to label the Dutchman as predictable when he is our most creative player currently, and he has, whether fans like it or not, been one of the most consistent in the starting XI.PlayerPremier League startsMost chances createdBruno Fernandes717Jack Grealish517Cody Gakpo614Bryan Mbeumo713Mohammed Kudus713The only Liverpool players who come close to his tally are Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz, with 11; however, the player has done his best on the left flank in what has been a poor overall season for this squad.What is also forgotten about why he starts the majority of games is the fact that only Rio Ngumoha is his replacement on the left.READ MORE: Liverpool shot a gaping hole in their own attack this summer and must solve it quicklyWirtz has shown that he is more comfortable in a midfield free role after his Crystal Palace display on the left wing.Slot should continue to start Gakpo because there is no one as consistent on that side as he is, but he still has room to improve.Cody Gakpo tied with Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike for the most goal contributions in the Premier League for LiverpoolIt should be expected that Gakpo is at least near the top of any goal contributions list for the team, considering his position, but it is also something that has been overlooked.He, Mohamed Salah, and Hugo Ekitike are tied for four goal contributions this season.While that is incredibly poor for a Liverpool side that should be scoring more goals consistently, it is a further reason why the Dutch player has a place consistently in this starting XI.There are more issues in the team than the left wing, even though it does need to be sorted in the near future, that have made this team perform so poorly, and they need to be ironed out quickly.