Steven Gerrard becomes the second Liverpool legend to demand Arne Slot make change

Steven Gerrard and another Liverpool icon have called for Arne Slot to make a change to his team

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has called for Arne Slot to drop Cody Gakpo in favour of Rio Ngumoha. The young winger produced an impressive performance after stepping in for Gakpo against Wolves on Tuesday, despite the Reds suffering a 2-1 loss.

Mohamed Salah appeared to have rescued a draw for Arne Slot's team at Molineux after Rodrigo Gomes' opening goal, only for Andre's late effort to clinch an unexpected victory for the hosts. It was a significant setback for Liverpool in their quest to secure Champions League football.

However, the squad have an immediate chance to exact revenge as they gear up to face Wolves in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday night, just three days after their previous visit to Molineux. Gerrard has urged Slot to switch out Gakpo for Ngumoha following another standout substitute appearance.

Reacting to Virgil van Dijk's criticism of the team after the defeat to Wolves, Gerrard said on TNT Sports: "He's right because for 65 minutes, Liverpool were desperate tonight, really poor. [They] didn't create enough, didn't play at the right speed or the right tempo, they didn't have the right quality.

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"[Slot] has to start Ngumoha now, he has to start him because he's coming on and doing more in a short cameo and in a short space of time than Gakpo is doing in 65/70 minutes. He deserves a start now. He's got the start the kid on Friday night."

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The teenager replaced Gakpo in the 65th minute and provided a greater attacking threat down the wing. Earlier in the campaign, Ngumoha became the Reds' youngest-ever goalscorer following a late winner against Newcastle United back in August.

Gerrard's call for him to be selected ahead of Gakpo mirrors Carragher's earlier assessment of Liverpool's wide men. After the recent victory over Nottingham Forest, Carragher felt the team's wingers had offered little until the youngster emerged from the substitutes' bench.

"Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that," Carragher told Sky Sports. "He changed the game and needs to be starting games."

Whether the two Liverpool legends get their wish on Friday remains to be seen. Reds manager Slot has previously outlined the delicate balancing act he's attempting to maintain regarding Ngumoha's minutes on the pitch.

"Let's be clear, he is a special player that will have more playing time and already has more playing time recently," Slot said last month. "If everyone thinks he is so good, then he should be in something to talk about again. If he is already good enough to play for us, then he should definitely be, in your opinion.

"(I'm mindful over lack of under-21s football) 100 per cent - that is what makes it so difficult at the age of these two players (Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni) and where they are at in their development. (They are) good enough to come in or to play for us, to be on the bench, (with) our squad not being big enough.

"So we always need them on the bench and that also means that if you look at his playing time and Trey's playing time, overall that has not been enough to develop a player ideally in a better way. But that is the downside of having injuries, the downside of they are a bit too good (for the U21s)."

Ngumoha has started three of his 17 first-team appearances so far this season. One of those starts was against Barnsley in the FA Cup third round and he will be vying for a place in Slot's team for Friday's cup clash against Wolves.

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