The Kopite View

When a young player publicly says he’s ready for more minutes, it usually raises eyebrows.

But when that player has already shown more energy and intent in limited appearances than established forwards have managed in full matches, it becomes harder to dismiss.

Ngumoha has made it clear:

“I feel like if you are not playing as much then you can stagnate, so I want to gain more minutes.”

That isn’t arrogance. It’s ambition.

And right now, Liverpool need ambition.

The Problem Slot Can’t Ignore

Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah have both struggled for consistency. The output hasn’t matched the expectation. The sharpness hasn’t been there. Too often the attack has looked predictable, safe, and easy to defend against.

Meanwhile, in short cameos, Ngumoha has looked direct, fearless and willing to take risks.

He runs at defenders.

He commits opponents.

He injects urgency.

That matters.

Age Is Not An Excuse

Managers often protect young players by pointing to their age. But football doesn’t wait.

Liverpool’s own history proves that.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was trusted young.

Michael Owen was trusted young.

Wayne Rooney exploded onto the scene as a teenager.

If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

Slot’s Decision

Slot now faces a choice:

Continue backing senior players who are underperforming, hoping form returns.

Or reward hunger and momentum.

Ngumoha isn’t asking for a guaranteed starting spot. He’s asking for minutes. For opportunity. For trust.

And in a season where creativity and spark have been lacking at times, ignoring that plea could become harder and harder to justify.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Reports suggesting Liverpool are preparing a €90m offer for Anthony Gordon have sparked excitement — and debate.

There is no doubt Gordon has developed into a dangerous Premier League attacker. His pace, pressing intensity and direct running would immediately add energy to Liverpool’s frontline.

But is he worth that kind of money?

The Case For

At 23, Gordon is entering his prime years. He understands the demands of the Premier League and has improved his output season after season. His work rate off the ball fits perfectly with the high-pressing style Liverpool want to maintain.

There’s also the emotional connection — a boyhood Liverpool supporter returning to Anfield. That narrative writes itself.

And crucially, Liverpool’s attack has looked blunt at times this season. A dynamic wide player who runs at defenders could change that.

The Case Against

€90m is elite-level money.

For that fee, expectations shift. Gordon wouldn’t be a promising addition — he would need to be a transformational one.

Is he a guaranteed 20-goal winger?

Does he elevate Liverpool into title favourites?

Or is that price inflated by Premier League premiums?

Liverpool must be certain.

The Bigger Picture

If the Reds are willing to invest €90m in one attacking player, it signals a shift in strategy. This wouldn’t be a squad addition — it would be a marquee signing.

And that brings pressure.

Liverpool have made big attacking signings before that paid off brilliantly. But every major fee carries risk.

If the reports are true, the club now faces a defining decision: back Gordon as the future of the frontline — or look elsewhere.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool are reportedly ready to offer €90 million for Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, with the Reds said to have made him their top transfer priority.

The 23-year-old, who is known to be a boyhood Liverpool supporter, has emerged as a leading target as the club look to reshape their attacking options ahead of next season.

A Statement of Intent

A €90m bid would represent a major statement from Liverpool’s hierarchy. Gordon has developed into one of the Premier League’s most dynamic wide forwards — direct, aggressive in pressing, and capable of carrying the ball at pace.

His intensity would align with the high-energy style Liverpool are trying to establish, while his ability to operate on either flank offers tactical flexibility.

More Than Just Talent

There is also the emotional angle.

Gordon grew up supporting Liverpool, and that connection could play a significant role if negotiations progress. Players with genuine ties to the club often bring an added level of commitment and understanding of what it means to wear the shirt.

Big Fee, Big Decision

However, prising Gordon away from Newcastle will not be straightforward. The Magpies view him as a key asset, and any deal would require serious financial commitment.

The question for Liverpool is whether they are prepared to invest heavily in one attacking reinforcement — and whether Gordon is the missing piece to elevate the frontline.

If the reports are accurate, Liverpool are not just monitoring — they are preparing to act.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Arne Slot appears reluctant to give Rio Ngumoha extended minutes, with age reportedly a key factor in the decision. But if that is truly the reasoning, it simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

Football history is full of examples where talent mattered more than birth certificates.

Trent Alexander-Arnold broke into Liverpool’s first team as a teenager and never looked back. Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene at 16 and dominated the Premier League almost immediately. Michael Owen became a global name before he was even 20.

Age didn’t hold them back — ability decided it.

Impact Over Numbers

Ngumoha’s brief cameo against Nottingham Forest showed confidence, directness and fearlessness. In just 13 minutes, he injected more urgency into Liverpool’s attack than others managed in over an hour.

If a player is good enough, he’s old enough.

Holding him back purely because of age risks slowing his development and denying Liverpool a spark they clearly need.

The Bigger Question

Liverpool’s attack has looked blunt at times this season. When creativity and energy are lacking, why not trust the player who offers exactly that?

Slot’s caution may come from a desire to protect a young talent, but there is a balance between protection and progression. The great managers know when to trust youth.

And sometimes, bravery is rewarded.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s managerial situation could be approaching a critical moment, with Xabi Alonso reportedly awaiting a formal contract offer from the club.

The former Liverpool midfielder is understood to be open to the move — but not indefinitely. There is said to be a timeframe in place, and if an official offer does not arrive by that date, Alonso will move on to other opportunities.

For Liverpool, this is a crossroads moment.

A Manager in Demand

Alonso’s stock has risen dramatically after his impressive managerial performances in Europe. Calm, tactically intelligent, and respected in the dressing room, he represents both modern coaching principles and a strong emotional connection to the club.

But he is not short of admirers.

If Liverpool hesitate, other elite clubs will not.

The Risk of Delay

Liverpool have already experienced uncertainty in key positions in recent seasons. The idea that they could miss out on a leading candidate due to indecision would frustrate supporters even further.

Timing in football is everything.

If Alonso is truly waiting for Liverpool, the club must make a clear and decisive move. Allowing the situation to drift risks losing a manager who many see as the ideal long-term figure to lead the next era.

The Message Is Simple

Liverpool cannot assume loyalty or sentiment will keep the door open forever.

If they want Xabi Alonso, they must act now.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s chaotic win at Nottingham Forest highlighted more than just resilience — it exposed a tactical issue that Arne Slot must address quickly.

Dominik Szoboszlai cannot continue to be deployed at right-back.

While Slot’s decision may have been influenced by injuries and availability, the first-half performance at the City Ground made one thing clear: Liverpool desperately needed Szoboszlai in midfield.

Midfield Overrun

Forest dominated large spells of the opening 45 minutes. Liverpool lacked control, energy, and creativity through the centre. The passing was slow, the pressing disjointed, and the Reds struggled to progress the ball with purpose.

Szoboszlai’s best attributes — driving runs, forward passing, intensity — were largely wasted from a deeper defensive role.

The In-Game Correction Says It All

Slot’s reshuffle before half-time told its own story. With Liverpool struggling, Szoboszlai was pushed back into midfield and Curtis Jones moved to right-back.

That switch was effectively an admission that Liverpool needed more authority in the middle of the pitch.

And once Szoboszlai moved inside, Liverpool looked slightly more balanced.

A Creative Void Still Unfilled

With Trent Alexander-Arnold no longer in the side, Liverpool are already missing creativity from deep. Removing Szoboszlai from midfield only compounds that problem.

If Slot wants control, energy and forward momentum, Szoboszlai must start centrally. Liverpool cannot afford to weaken one department just to patch another.

The Forest performance should serve as a warning: square pegs in round holes disrupt rhythm — and against stronger opponents, the consequences could be far worse.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Curtis Jones endured a difficult afternoon at Nottingham Forest, struggling to impose himself in a midfield that lacked control and creativity. But context matters — and Jones’ confidence can’t have been helped by the way events unfolded before and during the match.

After delivering an impressive performance at right-back against Brighton, many expected Jones to build on that display. Instead, he found himself moved back into midfield following Florian Wirtz’s injury in the warm-up — a blow in itself after thinking he had nailed down a role in the side.

It felt like a second setback when Arne Slot opted to start Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back instead, signalling that he trusted Szoboszlai more in that position. For a player who had just performed well there, that decision could hardly boost confidence.

Then came the in-game reshuffle.

With Liverpool struggling in midfield during a poor first half, Slot reversed course. Szoboszlai was pushed back into midfield and Jones was shifted to right-back midway through the half — effectively confirming that the manager felt he needed Szoboszlai centrally after all.

The constant positional changes did little to help Jones settle. Instead of clarity and continuity, he experienced uncertainty and adjustment in a chaotic first 45 minutes.

Jones was far from Liverpool’s only underperformer at the City Ground, but it’s fair to question whether the tactical juggling left him caught in the crossfire.

If Slot wants consistency from his squad players, they need clarity of role and trust. At Forest, Jones appeared to have neither.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Mohamed Salah came under criticism once more after Liverpool’s dramatic win at Nottingham Forest, but the bigger story isn’t just his form. Liverpool’s forwards are suffering from poor service, and the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold has left a creative void that Arne Slot still hasn’t filled, even as February comes to a close.

Poor Service and Isolated Forwards

For large parts of the match, Salah and Cody Gakpo were starved of quality chances. The Reds’ build-up play relied too heavily on sideways and backward passes, preventing the attackers from getting into dangerous positions.

Without Trent’s precise balls from deep — the kind that created so many goals in previous seasons — Salah often found himself isolated, frustrated, and forced to generate chances on his own.

Ngumoha Shows the Difference

It took just 13 minutes for Rio Ngumoha to inject energy, directness, and urgency into Liverpool’s attack. His movement and willingness to run at defenders immediately highlighted what’s missing for the starters: service and support.

What This Means for Slot

Arne Slot now faces a dilemma:

Stick with the struggling forwards and hope they rediscover form Adjust his system to create better supply lines in the final third

One thing is clear: Liverpool can’t rely on late drama every week. We’re into the end of February, and the creative void left by Trent is still painfully evident. Their attacking department needs more than luck — it needs structure, creativity, and a plan.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Three points. Relief. Celebrations at full-time.

But Liverpool’s performance at Nottingham Forest leaves serious questions hanging over Arne Slot.

Because if we’re honest, this wasn’t progress. It was papering over cracks.

A First Half That Should Worry Fans

Liverpool were second best — and not by a small margin.

Outrun Outworked Outthought Outshot

Forest looked sharper, more aggressive, and more organised. Liverpool lacked energy, structure and control. For a side chasing the top four, that is a major concern.

A week’s rest compared to Forest’s European exertions should have shown. Instead, it was Liverpool who looked leggy.

That falls on the manager.

Tactical Uncertainty

Slot’s early positional switches suggested even he wasn’t convinced by his own setup.

When a team looks confused in shape and hesitant in possession, it points to either poor preparation or players unsure of their roles.

Neither is comforting.

The Attack Is Misfiring

Salah struggled again. Gakpo failed to impose himself. Creativity was almost non-existent for 75 minutes.

Yes, Liverpool found a winner — but it came in chaos, not control.

You can’t rely on 97th-minute drama every week.

Winning Masks Performance — For Now

Slot will argue that good teams win when they play badly.

That’s true.

But great teams don’t repeatedly allow themselves to be outplayed by sides lower in the table.

Forest were 17th. Liverpool looked reactive, not dominant.

That is the worrying part.

Where Does This Leave Slot?

The points keep him safe.

The performance puts him under scrutiny.

If Liverpool don’t show sharper structure, intensity and attacking clarity in the next few fixtures, the questions will only grow louder.

This felt less like a statement win.

And more like a warning sign.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool left Nottingham Forest with three points, but the Reds’ lacklustre first-half performance and scrappy victory has left fans fuming. Many are calling it daylight robbery — and it’s easy to see why.

A Poor Start from the Reds

Liverpool looked sluggish, lacking energy, control, and creativity for long periods. Forest dominated the first half, creating clear chances that could have put them ahead. Fans were left frustrated as Liverpool failed to impose themselves, with even established stars struggling to influence the game.

VAR Drama and Late Escape

Alexis McAllister had his first goal disallowed by VAR for hitting his elbow — a harsh decision that could have given Liverpool a deserved lead. Liverpool were fortunate to have their late winner stand, especially after being unlucky with McAllister’s first goal being ruled out. The 97th-minute winner secured the points, but the win felt scrappy and left supporters both relieved and frustrated.

Why Fans Are Calling It Robbery

Forest were arguably the better side for most of the match. Liverpool’s lack of energy and creativity made them look vulnerable. A late, scrappy winner does little to disguise the performance.

Liverpool now move to 48 points, level with Chelsea in fourth, but the debate rages: was it resilience, or sheer luck at the right moment?

Jamie (The Kopite View)