Rio Ngumoha is COMING for Cody Gakpo

Arne Slot continues to trust Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman has won the favour of his compatriot over the course of the last year or so.

Firstly, the 26-year-old won the left-wing battle against Luis Diaz. The Colombian was unable to gain the new contract - and pay rise - he so desired and was sold to Bayern Munich over the summer.

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That left the flank open for Gakpo - who has also signed a new long-term contract since the season started. The former PSV captain also scored in the opening game of the season - against Bournemouth - but it’s fair to say his form has levelled off since then.

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And in the last few matches perhaps another threat has materialised for his starting place. Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes declined to sign a new left winger over the summer - despite lavishing vast sums on other areas of the attack.

Ngumoha is a game-changer

Of course Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz can play from the left but neither are specialists like Gakpo. But the emergence of Rio Ngumoha puts the Dutch international under significant threat.

Ngumoha has made game-altering contributions from the bench in games against Newcastle, Burnley and Atletico Madrid.

His directness and willingness to dribble have helped transform Liverpool’s fortunes - from potentially drawn games to winning positions.

Ngumoha can displace Gakpo

The 17-year-old has not yet earned a start his term for Arne Slot but it surely cannot be long. Quite often he is doing more in only 10 or 15 minutes than Gakpo is doing all game long.

The Merseyside Derby is likely to see Ngumoha on the bench once again rather than being thrown into a cut-and-thrust atmosphere from the start.

But the way his Liverpool senior career has begun it would be no surprise to see him make the step up to starting matches sooner rather than later.

On Wednesday he became Liverpool’s youngest ever player in European competition - emphasising the prodigious nature of his talent. It’s only a matter of time before Ngumoha establishes himself as a key man in the Reds’ starting lineup.

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