THREE Liverpool players still need to prove their worth to Arne Slot

Liverpool's first-team squad have a lot of making up to do in the second half of the season.

If you'd have said to the Reds' fans at the start of the 2025-26 season that they'd be 10 points adrift of the top spot by Christmas, they'd have laughed you out of the room.

The Anfield outfit have spent an obscene amount of money but if we're being honest, it feels like they're much worse off than they were last term.

If they can't get things to click soon, their season could go from bad to worse with Arne Slot's men potentially missing out on a Champions League place.

So, if they're wanting to be in Europe's premium competition next season, these three players will need to prove their worth before it's too late.

Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo fought with Luis Diaz for game time last season.

And, with the Colombian now out of the picture, most fans thought that the Dutchman would thrive but to be honest, Diaz's absence has just proven how important he actually was.

Even though the Dutchman was often played out of position last term, the trio of Mohamed Salah, Diaz and Gakpo seemed to work really well alongside one another.

However, with Hugo Ekitike now in the mix, the way that Salah and Gakpo play has had to change which seems to have massively impacted the number of goals that the Reds score.

And, the fact that Slot's defence has been a bit wobbly since the start of the season hasn't helped matters all that much either.

If Gakpo doesn't manage to get his shooting boots on soon, there could be some real problems in Liverpool's future, especially with Alexander Isak now sidelined due to injury.

Milos Kerkez

Milos Kerkez was one of the main players who Liverpool's fans were excited to see among their ranks this term.

Last season, it was clear that both Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas were nowhere near as good as they used to be.

So, the fact that the Anfield outfit targeted a new left-back as one of their first signings was music to fans' ears.

However, Robertson has been the left-back who Slot has called upon with the Hungarian far too jumpy to be seen as a regular starter.

There has already been more than one occasion this season when Kerkez's lack of experience and inability to keep his head has cost Liverpool points.

Indeed, the fact that he's being used as a full-back rather than a wing-back isn't likely helping matters all that much but since he cost Richard Hughes and Slot around £45 million to bring in, fans expected much more from the left-back.

If he doesn't manage to get back to his best and prove that he can handle being the Reds' starting left-back, Robertson's contract will have to be extended which would leave Slot in a bit of a pickle.

That is, especially since Tsimikas' loan to AS Roma will have expired by then.

Jeremie Frimpong

For most Liverpool fans, Jeremie Frimpong was seen as the perfect replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The fact that Slot doesn't trust Joe Gomez and that he chose to move on Jarell Quansah in the summer proves how much faith he had in his fellow countryman to deliver the goods.

However, moving Quansah on may prove to be one of Slot's biggest mistakes, especially since all Frimpong has seemed to do is get injured.

Much like Kerkez, Frimpong thrives when he's allowed to push forward and although Liverpool's formation allows for some attacking moves, their full-backs main goal is to cover their opponents' wingers.

This then allows players such as Salah and Gakpo to stay forward and try to create more chances to win the Reds games.

However, due to how wobbly their defence has been this term, things haven't quite worked out that way with fans being left underwhelmed by Frimpong's performances.

His lack of physicality has been laid bare and unless he can start contributing to goals or putting in better defensive performances than Conor Bradley, it's hard to see where his future lies.

With this in mind, unless the aforementioned trio manage to get their act together and start proving why they were chosen to be Liverpool players, fans could be left rather upset, especially if they fail to end the campaign in a Champions League place.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 A new centre-back is COMING to Liverpool

👉🏻 Liverpool finally replace Trent Alexander-Arnold with brilliant playmaker

👉🏻 Centre-back confirms he's ready to join Liverpool