Archive | February, 2026

Liverpool Fans Are Losing Patience With Cody Gakpo – So Why Won’t Arne Slot Drop Him?

10 Feb

Few Liverpool players divide opinion right now quite like Cody Gakpo. On paper, he has the tools to be a key part of Arne Slot’s attack — technically gifted, versatile, and capable of moments of real quality. But week after week, many supporters are left asking the same question: how long can this go on, and why does Slot refuse to drop him?

The frustration isn’t just about missed chances or quiet games. It’s about inconsistency. Gakpo can look sharp for a short spell, link play nicely, and then disappear entirely when Liverpool need him most. In matches where intensity and directness are required, he too often fades out, leaving fans wondering what his actual role is meant to be.

What makes it harder to accept is that this isn’t a new problem. Liverpool supporters have seen this version of Gakpo before — flashes of promise followed by long periods where he offers little end product. Yet despite this, he continues to start games, while others are rotated, questioned, or hooked early.

From Arne Slot’s perspective, there may be logic behind the loyalty. Gakpo fits the system tactically. He presses when instructed, understands positional rotations, and can drop into midfield areas to help control games. Slot may value reliability in structure over risk, especially during a period of injuries and instability elsewhere in the squad.

But football isn’t played on tactical boards alone. Supporters see the momentum stall when attacks break down around Gakpo. They see chances slow, decision-making hesitate, and promising moves lose their edge. At Anfield, patience wears thin quickly when effort isn’t matched by impact.

The bigger issue is the message it sends. If underperforming players continue to start regardless, what incentive is there for others to force their way in? Liverpool fans aren’t necessarily demanding Gakpo be written off — they’re asking for accountability. A spell on the bench isn’t a punishment; it’s often a reset.

This is where Slot faces one of his earliest tests as Liverpool manager. Sticking by his players shows trust, but ignoring fan frustration and on-pitch evidence risks disconnect. Dropping Gakpo for a game or two wouldn’t be an admission of failure — it would be a statement that standards matter.

Because right now, supporters aren’t confused about Gakpo’s talent. They’re confused about his selection. And until that changes, the noise around him — and around Slot — is only going to get louder.

Liverpool’s Right-Back Crisis Deepens – So Why Won’t Arne Slot Trust Calvin Ramsay?

10 Feb

Liverpool’s growing injury list has created a familiar problem, but this time it feels particularly damaging. With no senior right-backs currently available and now Dominik Szoboszlai suspended, Arne Slot is facing one of his first real selection crises since arriving at Anfield. Yet amid all the reshuffling and tactical compromises, one question keeps coming back: why won’t Calvin Ramsay get a chance?

The absence of a recognised right-back has already forced Liverpool into makeshift solutions. Square pegs are being pushed into round holes, balance is being lost on the right side, and the knock-on effect is being felt further up the pitch. Szoboszlai’s suspension only adds to the problem, removing energy, pressing, and drive from midfield at a time when Liverpool badly need stability.

What makes this situation more frustrating for supporters is that Ramsay remains on the periphery. Signed with promise and pedigree, the young Scot has barely featured since arriving and now finds himself overlooked even when the position he naturally plays is wide open. Injuries have stalled his progress, but when fit, this feels like the exact moment he should at least be considered.

Arne Slot may have his reasons. Trust is earned on the training ground, and perhaps Ramsay hasn’t convinced the new coaching staff physically or tactically. Slot’s system demands discipline, positional awareness, and bravery in possession — qualities he may not yet see consistently in Ramsay. There’s also the possibility that the manager simply prefers experience or versatility during a difficult run of fixtures.

But that explanation only goes so far. If Liverpool are already compromising defensively by using stand-ins, what is really lost by giving Ramsay a chance? At worst, you learn he isn’t ready. At best, you uncover a solution that saves further disruption elsewhere in the team.

Szoboszlai’s absence makes this even more significant. Without his intensity and forward thrust, Liverpool need clarity and structure behind him. Constantly reshuffling defenders doesn’t help midfield control, and Slot’s reluctance to trust Ramsay risks compounding the problem rather than solving it.

This is shaping up to be a defining period for Slot’s early Liverpool reign. Injuries and suspensions are unavoidable, but squad management is part of the job. How he navigates this right-back crisis — and whether Ramsay is finally trusted — will tell us a lot about his approach, his flexibility, and how willing he is to take calculated risks.

Because if not now, then when?

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Can Slot Survive This Tough Week?

10 Feb

Liverpool fans don’t tend to overreact — but weekends like the one just gone have a habit of sharpening every doubt. The defeat to Manchester City wasn’t just painful because of the result, it was painful because of what it hinted at. Suddenly, this feels like a defining week for Arne Slot, not in terms of his job just yet, but in how firmly he can steady the ship, quieten the noise, and show that this Liverpool side is moving forward rather than treading water.

Liverpool fans are waking up on Tuesday morning with that familiar, sinking feeling — the kind that comes after a game that should’ve been a turning point but instead feels like a reminder of just how fragile things still are.

That’s because this past weekend’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City at Anfield wasn’t just another defeat. It may well have been the moment that truly tests Arne Slot’s credentials, his tactics, and his future at Liverpool. 

1️⃣ The Result Hurt — Deeply

Slot’s side took the lead through a stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, and for 70-plus minutes it looked like Liverpool might finally grab a big scalp at home. Instead, they conceded an equaliser and then a stoppage-time penalty — leaving fans gutted and the stadium silent. 

But what makes this more than just a loss is the context around it.

2️⃣ Momentum Slipping in the League

This defeat wasn’t a fluke — it’s part of a worrying pattern of late goals conceded and points dropped. Liverpool have now conceded four stoppage-time winners in the league this season, something Slot himself has even admitted feels like the team is “almost getting used to” conceding late goals. 

That’s not a statistic you want hanging over a manager who’s supposed to be building something resilient at a club with title expectations.

3️⃣ Fans Are Questioning More Than Just Tactics

The reactions online tell you everything you need to know. Some supporters are fuming at Slot’s in-game decision-making, especially substitutions that came too late to influence the match. Others are pointing at the team’s shape, pressing, and lack of control in big moments. 

On forums and social media, you see fans who are no longer just disappointed — they’re anxious.

4️⃣ Pressure Is Building Faster Than Slot Probably Expected

Liverpool’s league position — sixth and outside the Champions League spots — adds real pressure. Former Reds like Jamie Carragher have openly questioned whether Liverpool can even secure top-four football if this kind of form continues. 

That’s the kind of talk that turns a bad result into a dangerous week for a manager.

5️⃣ This Week Is More Than Training

Slot now faces:

A tough away fixture to Sunderland where Liverpool cannot afford to slip up, before an FA Cup tie at home to Brighton on Saturday. Questions from pundits and reporters about his tactics. A fanbase that’s itching for clarity on Klopp comparisons, team identity, and true progress

This isn’t just about bouncing back. It’s about whether Slot can silence the doubters and prove the City loss was a blip — not a trend.

Final Word

No one expects Slot to perform miracles overnight — managers always have ups and downs. But this week? It’s one of those moments every Liverpool fan will be talking about long after the dust settles.

Because whether you’re firmly in the Slot In camp or you’re quietly skeptical, this is the point where belief starts to matter almost as much as results and supporters are running out of patience as Liverpool slide down the league table.

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