“Doesn’t even know his strongest team”, “This looks bad” - Fans unhappy with 26-year-old Liverpool star being named in line-up vs Chelsea

Liverpool fans have been left disappointed after 26-year-old forward Cody Gakpo was named in the starting line-up for their league meeting with Chelsea. The Reds are at Stamford Bridge for the encounter with top spot in the Premier League on the line heading into the international break.

Arne Slot's side dropped points in the league for the first time this season when a late goal from Eddie Nketiah helped Crystal Palace defeat them last weekend. The former Feyenoord boss has made two changes to the XI that was defeated by the Eagles, with Gakpo coming in for Florian Wirtz.

The decision of the Dutch tactician to name Gakpo in the XI was met by unhappiness from some Liverpool fans, as they believe he is not the best option for the position. A number of them took to X to air their grievances, stating reasons why they believe the decision to be a bad one.

A fan questioned the inclusion of the Dutch forward and Ibrahima Konate in the XI.

Another fan showed their disappointment with a downcast emoji.

A fan pointed out that Federico Chiesa is a better fit for the team than Gakpo.

Another fan explained that Gakpo does not allow the full-back on his side to thrive and that Rio Ngumoha would have been better.

A fan called out Slot for lacking the courage to drop Gakpo for Chiesa.

Another fan pointed out that Slot is unaware of his strongest XI at this point.

Liverpool have been forced into a change in their XI after Alisson picked up a serious hamstring injury in their midweek defeat at Galatasaray. Slot has opted to drop Wirtz from the XI in favour of Gakpo, who has scored once and provided two assists in nine appearances this season.

Duo named on bench for Liverpool against Chelsea

Liverpool coach Arne Slot has named the duo of Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa on the bench for their league meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Reds are looking to regain too spot in the league after Arsenal's win over West Ham sent them to the summit of the standings.

Ekitike was suspended for the defeat at Crystal Palace last week but picked up an injury in their UEFA Champions League defeat to Galatasaray. The Frenchman was forced off in the second half but is fit enough to make the bench against the Blues.

Chiesa was absent for Liverpool in the Champions League in midweek due to a minor injury issue. The Italy international has been named on the bench in London, where he was on target in the defeat against Crystal Palace last week.

About the author

Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.

Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.

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Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen