Slot Must Bench 17 times Liverpool stars lost the ball

Liverpool increased their chances of securing a top-four place in the Premier League this afternoon with a 5-2 victory over West Ham United at Anfield.

Arne Slott’s side had a three-goal lead at the end of the first half with goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister, all but sealing victory for the Reds.

A second-half goal from Kodi Gakpo and an own goal from Axel Disasi ensured Merseyside’s performance was top-notch and they moved up to fifth place.

However, although goals from Tati Castellanos and Tomas Soucek caused Slot’s side to experience a number of tense moments, the Reds’ attacking quality managed to shine through.

Despite having one player on the scoresheet, he again failed to impress in this afternoon’s win, which raises questions about his future.

Statistics behind Gakpo’s match against West Ham

Winger Gakpo was on the scoresheet for the first time in eight games, but struggled to make an impression throughout the 90 minutes.

The Dutchman’s goal brought the Reds within three goals again at Anfield, but it only made up for his dismal performance against a team in the relegation zone.

He took part in 11 duels this afternoon, winning 5-2, but lost in nine of them. That number was the highest of any player on the pitch.

Gakpo could have easily added a second goal, but his miss from just four yards pretty much summed up his recent poor display on Merseyside.

His attempted dribbles also failed, and his crosses failed to find his teammates, further highlighting his struggles in attacking areas.

The Dutchman was able to get another one back in the second half due to his own complaints and was lucky to avoid a second yellow after picking up three fouls.

Liverpool’s star player is a bigger problem than Gakpo

Given his struggles in recent weeks, especially given the rise of teenage star Rio Ngmoha at Anfield, Gakpo is a player under huge pressure.

The 17-year-old often had to be taken off the bench as a substitute and left supporters confused, particularly after his cameo appearance against Nottingham Forest.

However, the youngster will have to wait for more time on Merseyside, with Slott seemingly determined to select a player like Gakpo ahead of him in the pecking order at the moment.

The Dutchman is not the only player to struggle to deliver despite the faith that continues to be shown in him, with fellow winger Mohamed Salah being another star who has fallen well short of expectations.

The Egyptian international has played a central role in Liverpool’s success over the past few seasons, but age has definitely caught up with the 33-year-old.

He currently has 11 games without a goal in the Premier League and is no longer a force to be reckoned with in attack, as he was during his years at Anfield.

Salah’s performance against West Ham was another example of him not being at the level he needs to be, and his poor form is now a bigger problem than Gakpo’s.

He lost the ball 17 times during the win against the Hammers, the most of any Reds player, highlighting the lack of quality within the final third.

The winger also failed to convert any of his attempted dribbles, with just 11% of his crosses delivered into the box being found by teammates.

Salah has also lost 100% of his aerial duels and only recorded one shot on goal, but the forward is definitely struggling to supply as much as he used to.

The Egyptian has certainly contributed significantly to Liverpool’s success in recent years, but ultimately the time has come to move him on to allow the next generation to flourish.

The club’s significant investment in the summer has helped address a number of key issues within the squad, but it is clear that the club needs additional reinforcements in a wide range of areas.

Given his previous level, it would be very sad to see the winger decline and he and Gakpo will be desperate for a replacement in the near future.