Liverpool’s left-wing battle: Which one will outshine the other?

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot inherited a formidable squad from Jurgen Klopp and he assessed them throughout the pre-season tour. However, some players missed the tour due to their obligations with international duties in Copa America and Euro 2024 competitions.

Slot still maintained communication with the players who joined the pre-season late, understanding their commitments and aspirations for the season. Liverpool are the only club in Europe who have not signed a single player this summer despite the staff transition.

Liverpool tried to sign a number six by acquiring Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad but they failed in their endeavour. While the Reds see the number six position as a necessity, they cover the rest of the positions well.

One of the positions is the left attacking wing where Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz will compete for the starting role. While Diaz remained the regular starter under Klopp last season, Gakpo proved his worth in last season’s latter stages.

Furthermore, Gakpo produced incredible performances for the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 until their elimination from the tournament. The 25-year-old is capable of playing in multiple positions which worked against him last season under Klopp.

As he played in several positions during the early stages of the campaign, Gakpo struggled with consistency. The Dutchman consistently contributed but other attacking players on the team overshadowed him.

Speaking to Viaplay (via YouTube), Slot highlighted the best position for Gakpo while addressing the competition he faces. He said:

“For us, it’s a bit more about fixed positions, and I think Cody’s best position is as a left winger. But he’s got some serious competition from Luis Diaz. So, if both of them are doing great, as a coach, you might feel tempted to choose one of them. I want to try out a couple of different positions, but I really think both of them are best as left wingers.”

The situation can change if Barcelona act upon their interest in Diaz as the Colombian is their childhood supporter. However, Liverpool would want to replace Diaz immediately with names like Anthony Gordon already dominating the transfer rumours.

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The situation will not change the importance of Gakpo for Liverpool next season as the left-attacking winger. The Dutch forward has the flair, creativity and technical prowess to contribute much higher than he did last season.