£44m Liverpool player has real chance to break into Arne Slot's starting XI with big display tomorrow - opinion
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Naming Liverpool’s best XI at the moment has become a relatively straightforward task.
The Reds have had to rotate fairly heavily over the past couple of weeks as the games start to come thick and fast this season.
However, throughout it all, there has been a very clear idea about which eleven players Arne Slot wants to start for Liverpool.
The Liverpool head coach has established a starting XI and a reserve XI very quickly after arriving at the club.
Although there are one or two greyish areas within this, you can easily name the starter and his back-up for each position across the pitch.
The one role where a challenge to this hierarchy has so far been most fierce is at left-wing, where Cody Gakpo has been battling with Luis Diaz. But after weeks of pushing each other, a clear winner could emerge on Wednesday.
Cody Gakpo must take starting chance for Liverpool
Perhaps slightly surprisingly, Slot opted with Diaz as his regular starter on the left at the beginning of the season.
Despite Gakpo having an excellent European Championship with the Netherlands, Slot seemingly decided that he liked what he saw from Diaz instead.
Since then, it has been obvious that Gakpo has been determined to force his way into the side. But, unfortunately for him, Diaz has been in terrific form, too.
That changed a little on Saturday, when the Colombian failed to answer Gakpo’s two goals against West Ham in midweek with a good performance of his own.
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Diaz was subdued against Wolves and with his direct rival looking set to return to the starting line-up for Wednesday’s Champions League game against Bologna, the advantage is now with Gakpo.
Although the No.18 started the previous Champions League game and did really well in Milan, it was always likely that Diaz’s good form would see him return for Premier League duties.
However, if Gakpo can put in a similar performance against Bologna, Slot has much less reason to ignore him for Diaz against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Can Cody Gakpo take advantage?
Often, it has felt that right when Gakpo has the advantage at his fingertips he has been unable to really press it home.
If he turns in an ineffectual display against Bologna – as he can sometimes do – then the 25-year-old may have missed his golden chance to capitalise.
Without a clear need to change things again, Slot will likely return to the status quo and begin the player who will be most fresh for the game at Selhurst Park; Diaz.
But if Gakpo can be as decisive as he has in his last two starts for Liverpool, he will signal to the boss that he should be the one to start on Saturday.
Make no mistake, this is a big game for the £44m man. Diaz has opened the door to Gakpo winning this race, now the Dutchman must now walk through it.
