Arne Slot IGNORES the one forward that can save his job

Liverpool continue to underwhelm in the Premier League this season - drawing their latest outing against Sunderland on Wednesday night.

It’s clear Arne Slot is having trouble dealing with the so-called “low block” as opponents sit in close to their goal.

Liverpool have been unable to get through that kind of rearguard action - resorting to low-quality shots from distance or else living in hope of creating a set-piece opportunity.

Slot has made reference to the uniform approach taken by the Reds’ opponents this season - as the Reds struggle to match up to their pre-season expectations.

Sunderland were the latest team to come to Anfield in the expectation of a result and it’s clear that Liverpool’s chance creation is going to have to get a lot better.

Gakpo in the eye of the storm

A player who has been the focus of fan displeasure in recent fixtures has been Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman is seen as somewhat of a favourite of his compatriot Slot - starting 12 of the Merseysiders’ 14 league games thus far.

The 26-year-old has in fairness scored four goals and added three assists in the top flight - but there is a sense that Liverpool can profit a lot more from the left wing position.

Slot admitted as much on Wednesday night when explaining why he hauled off Gakpo at half-time in favour of bringing Mo Salah into the game.

"In my opinion, Cody struggled to dominate the one-v-ones,” he said after the game.

“If you want to have any chance against, they were pressing high but also in multiple situations they were in a low block, [so] the way to score is quite simple: you need a moment of magic from a player or you need a set-piece to score.

“I felt in the first half Cody struggled to find that moment because it was hard for him to dominate the one-v-one or get crosses in.”

Why won't Arne Slot give Ngumoha a chance?

Be that as it may but Slot has a player at his disposal who could do exactly as requested.

The problem is he simply won’t give Rio Ngumoha a chance to do so. The sample size is small but Ngumoha’s numbers this season have been relatively pleasing - especially when it comes to those one one-on-one actions.

The 17-year-old has been used sparingly by Slot this term - during his rookie Premier League campaign. Ngumoha has racked up only five substitute appearances - totaling barely 45 minutes - but has been impressive despite that scant game time.

He’s scored once - a late winner away at Newcastle - but it’s his dribbling capabilities that Slot can no longer afford to ignore.

Ngumoha has the magic Arne Slot wants

Gakpo is a willing player - but is sadly predictable when it comes to squaring up to opponents.

Rio is a very different threat - boasting an average of eight successful take-ons per 90 in the league this term as opposed to Gakpo’s total of 1.37 per 90.

That’s according to FBREF - whose statistics also show that Ngumoha easily bests Gakpo in the carries categories too. Furthermore Ngumoha averages 5.87 shot-creating actions per 90 compared to Gakpo’s total of 4.27.

The young Englishman is crying out for an opportunity. He can do all the things that are demanded of Gakpo - but that the Netherlands’ international just cannot manage.

Slot may soon have to come to the realisation that the solution to his team’s attacking woes - a lack of a player who can take on opponents and create magic - has been sitting on the bench all along.

This isn’t what Ngumoha will have been expecting either when he signed his first pro deal in August. Still eligible for various age groups, he is instead getting NO significant game time as he remains glued to the bench.

It’s time for Slot to give those opportunities to the former Chelsea youth right now. It may well save his job.

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