Journalist: Liverpool star ‘isn’t good enough’ to warrant current gametime | OneFootball

Arne Slot’s Selection Puzzle In A Turbulent December

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence under Arne Slot has shifted from early optimism to a frustrating cycle that has delivered only four wins from the past fifteen games across all competitions. The manager who guided the club to a championship in his debut campaign now finds himself under scrutiny for team selections that have puzzled supporters and analysts alike. Cody Gakpo has become the lightning rod for much of that debate, not because of who he is as a player, but because of how often he appears in the starting eleven regardless of form.

This topic came into sharp focus when David Lynch spoke to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, offering detailed insight into Slot’s reliance on the Dutch forward.

Gakpo’s Minutes And The Structural Dilemma

Liverpool entered the season with what looked like a refreshed squad profile across the frontline. Greater fluidity, more competition, and tactical flexibility were meant to define the new era. Instead, one early concern has played out exactly as feared.

As Lynch explained, “When Liverpool put together this squad at the start of the season, everyone was willing to give it time and see how it works.”“One thing that we all worried about was that it was going to result in Cody Gakpo playing 90% of the minutes and here we are in December and exactly that has happened.”

The numbers emphasise the point. Gakpo has featured in practically every meaningful moment this season, yet his impact remains inconsistent. Liverpool’s attacking patterns often stall when he operates centrally, and the lack of a natural replacement has placed even greater strain on Slot’s system.

Missing Alternatives And Growing Fan Frustrations

Lynch’s assessment cuts deeper when addressing the lack of internal options to rotate effectively. He noted, “He’s not good enough to do that, in my opinion. He’s a great option and a really good player and he can play better than this but you have to have an option to come in instead and that was Luis Diaz last season.”

This is where supporters feel the club’s planning has faltered. Luis Diaz has not reproduced last season’s spark, Diogo Jota’s absence has been felt far more than anticipated, and the highly rated Rio Ngumoha remains unused because, as Lynch stated, “He’s in that moment now, where he is playing poorly but they’re too scared to throw Rio Ngumoha into the side.”

Compounding that irritation is the continued absence of Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup in the last three matches. With Gakpo struggling and Liverpool enduring a poor run, leaving out the club’s most reliable scorer has added tension across the fanbase.

Photo: IMAGO

January Decisions And Slot’s Immediate Challenge

Lynch captured the sense of bewilderment felt by many when he concluded, “He really isn’t playing well and it feels like Gakpo is the one nailed-on starter in the attacking line. How have we got into this situation?”

It is a question that hangs over Liverpool as January approaches. Whether through tactical adjustment, braver squad rotation, or transfer activity, Slot must rebalance an attacking unit that feels out of sync. There is still time to recover the season’s momentum, but the reliance on an underperforming forward has become a defining storyline that the manager cannot allow to drift any further.