Liverpool Fans Urge Arne Slot to Implement Major Line-Up Change Following Everton Match

Liverpool fans are urging manager Arne Slot to make a tough decision regarding his lineup after the team’s 2-1 victory in the Merseyside derby.

On Saturday, the reigning Premier League champions faced local rivals Everton at Anfield in one of the season’s most anticipated matches. Liverpool quickly took a two-goal lead with strikes from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike. However, Everton responded with a well-placed shot from Idrissa Gueye shortly after halftime, making the second half tense.

Despite securing their sixth consecutive win of the season, fans expressed dissatisfaction with one player and are calling for Slot to replace him in the starting lineup. With club-record signing Alexander Isak making his long-awaited debut earlier in the week, fans were eager to see who would start in attack.

Slot opted for his usual front three of Cody Gakpo, Ekitike, and Mohamed Salah, as Isak continued to regain full fitness. After Gakpo’s performance against Everton, some fans took to social media to advocate for Slot to bench the Dutchman to make room for both Ekitike and Isak.

One fan posted on X, “We need to find a way to play both Hugo and Isak. Gakpo isn’t fluid enough in our current setup.” Another remarked, “Cody Gakpo is clearly the weakest link in this strong Liverpool side. With Isak fit and Ekitike performing well, the Frenchman should play on the wing with Gakpo on the bench.” A frustrated supporter simply added, “Gakpo… I’m trying, brother. I’m trying so hard.”

Before the match, Slot acknowledged that he had considered removing Gakpo from the lineup to allow both of his new star forwards to start. He stated, “I consider [playing both together] because you consider many things. If both are in top form, it’s something to think about, but we also have a 4-3-3 structure. Hugo can play off the left, and our squad’s versatility allows us to adapt based on form and fitness.”