Arne Slot told to make two major changes in Liverpool shake-up after Wolves shock
Arne Slot has been urged to drop both Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo for Friday’s FA Cup clash with Wolves.
The Reds face a rematch with their latest Premier League opponents in the fifth round later this week.
It comes just three days after their shock 2-1 defeat to the relegation-bound side on Tuesday.
Andre’s stoppage-time winner saw Wolves snatch only a third league victory of the season for Rob Edwards’ side.
The triumph was also their first against Liverpool since February 2023 after a run of six consecutive defeats in the fixture.
Liverpool had appeared to have rescued a draw when Mohamed Salah cancelled out Rodrigo Gomes’ opener before Andre’s dramatic winner.
Slot told to make changes
The performance against Wolves provided a major talking point on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool.
Host Sam Ellard was left concerned by the lack of attacking options on the Liverpool bench despite their summer spending spree.
Both Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are currently sidelined through injury.
However, Slot was able to name Andy Robertson, Rio Ngumoha, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa amongst his substitutes.
Assessing the potential changes available to Slot for Friday, Ellard said: “Isak and Wirtz are out injured, from an offensive point of view, but you look at the bench on Tuesday night and, you kind of think, what can Arne Slot actually do in terms of personnel to change.
“Robertson, Ngumoha, Jones, Chiesa are on the bench. They’re four players that could come in.
“You look at the options we’ve got off the bench and think did we actually spend £450million last summer.”
He added: “Maybe Rio is the obvious one, maybe Jones, but it’s pretty much going to have to be a similar-ish team.”
New role for Reds star
Meanwhile, former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant called for Salah and Cody Gakpo to make way on Friday night.
As well as bringing Ngumoha into the starting line-up, Pennant wants to see Jeremie Frimpong in a different role to earlier in the week.
The Champions League finalist explained: “It has to be (Ngumoha), and I think maybe just throwing Rio from the start. He has to.
“Throw him on the left, give him 60 minutes, and then bring Gakpo on to maybe start coming inside a bit more.
“I think I’d play Frimpong further up instead of Salah for the FA Cup.
“Drop Salah for the FA Cup, just see and put Frimpong there, because you can use it as a trial of sorts.
“Salah’s not really giving us too much, let’s be honest. So maybe put Frimpong there. Who’s got legs? Who’s got pace?
“Get someone to the byline, getting crosses in, and that’s where he’s got most of his assists by doing that.
“I think maybe those two change up and bring quality players on afterwards, when the game opens up a little bit and when the defenders are tired, like Wolves did, bringing players who can make a difference. That’s what we should try.”
Frimpong has provided 59 assists during his club career, with 35 of those coming whilst playing as a right midfielder.
However, he has been deployed at right-back in 16 of his 21 Liverpool appearances this season, including against Wolves on Tuesday.
As for Ngumoha, the 17-year-old replaced Gakpo for the final 25 minutes at Molineux.
Although it was his 17th first-team appearance of the campaign, only three of those have been as a starter.
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