Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon
Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon (Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Even so soon into his reign as Liverpool manager, Arne Slot has been made to negotiate several, significant sliding doors moments.
Most of those, of course, came in the early weeks of his tenure as he and the club's sporting director, Richard Hughes, were tasked with fine-tuning the squad that he had inherited from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
As part of the pre-season stock check, it was decided that Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi could complement the Reds' current midfield options, with the Euro 2024 winner viewed as a more natural defensive midfielder than the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
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In the end, though, Zubimendi would snub interest from Anfield in favour of staying with Sociedad for the first half of the 2023/24 season, at least.
But that wasn't the only sliding doors moment Slot and Liverpool had to contend with in the summer, as Anthony Gordon, at one point, seemed set to become one of the first signings of a new era at Anfield.
In fact, it was back in June that Liverpool were exploring the possibility of signing Gordon from Newcastle United after the England international's fine first full season at St James' Park.
In total, Gordon, a boyhood Liverpool fan, scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in the 2023/24 season, meaning it was little surprise when the Reds tabled an offer - valued at £75m - for the winger.
But this term, Gordon and Newcastle, it must be said, have struggled to hit the heights of recent seasons. But that didn't stop the 23-year-old from acing a first audition in front of Slot when Newcastle and Liverpool played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James' Park earlier this month.
It is, then, little surprise to see Gordon nominated for the Reach Football of the Year award, where he will face competition from some of the Premier League's best in class - Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer.
In theory, after another stellar calendar year at Anfield, the award should already be on the way to Salah, though the fact Gordon is ready to rival Egyptian highlights his immense talent and perhaps reaffirms the theory that he is on the right path to earn a move to Anfield.
Have your say on who should win the Reach Football of the Year award below.