Liverpool fans call out Arne Slot as 26-year-old star included in XI to face Nottingham Forest
Liverpool fans call out Arne Slot as 26-year-old star included in XI to face Nottingham Forest
Liverpool fans are furious with Arne Slot for including Cody Gakpo in the starting XI for their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest. The two teams are set to face off at the City Ground on Sunday.
Slot made two changes to his line-up that defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 in their last outing. Hugo Ekititke and Ryan Gravenberch return in attack and midfield, respectively, with Federico Chiesa and Curtis Jones dropping to the bench.
Liverpool have endured a rollercoaster 2025/26 campaign, with Gakpo among the players who have failed to impress. The Dutchman is set to make his 25th league appearance of the season but has only scored five goals. Adding to fans’ chagrin, he has started Liverpool’s last seven league matches but has found the net only once.
Despite his goal drought, Slot opted for the 26-year-old in the starting line-up once again, a decision that did not sit well with a section of the Reds faithful.
One wrote:
“WHAT IS HIS F*CKING OBSESSION WITH GAKPO?!🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻.”
Another tweeted:
“Gakpo will start each and every game under Arne Slot and will play 90 minutes despite playing badly.”
A third added:
“Another day of Gakpo instead of Rio [Ngumoha].”
One queried:
“When are we gonna be free of seeing Gakpo in the team FFS?”
Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike, Gravenberch.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha.
Liverpool looking to end year-long Premier League wait vs. Nottingham Forest
Liverpool do not have happy recent memories against Nottingham Forest, as they failed to win any of their last three meetings against the Tricky Trees. Although they ended Sunderland’s unbeaten home streak in their last league outing, their record at the City Ground is nothing to write home about.
Not only did they fail to beat Forest away from home during their title-winning 2024/25 campaign, but they have also won just one of their last 15 visits to the City Ground. Adding to the intrigue, the Merseysiders will look to avoid a new manager bounce from Forest, who have had four permanent managers this season amid a poor run of form.
In light of the foregoing, the Reds have their work cut out ahead of today’s fixture. Elsewhere, a win is necessary for the Premier League champions to close the gap on Chelsea in the race for the top four.