Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Cody Gakpo is a fitness concern ahead of Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Dutch forward was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining in the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday night, a match that ended in dramatic fashion with a stoppage-time equalizer from James Tarkowski.
Gakpo has been in outstanding form this season, finding the net 16 times in 35 matches across all competitions. However, he sustained a knock in the midweek fixture, putting his availability for the weekend in doubt.
Injury concerns for Liverpool
During his Friday press conference, Slot shared updates on several of his squad members, including Gakpo and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“The plan was for Trent to play 30 minutes against Everton, and he managed to do that,” Slot explained. “He will continue training with us. Unfortunately, Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton are unavailable.”
Slot also addressed Gakpo’s situation, stating, “Cody is a slight doubt. I had to take him off due to an injury, and we will assess his condition today.”
Slot reflects on controversial derby
The Liverpool boss was visibly frustrated with the officiating at Goodison Park, earning himself a red card for his protests following the match. The Premier League initially announced a two-match touchline ban for Slot, only to later remove the statement from their website and social media.
Reflecting on the incident, Slot admitted, “I would have handled things differently in hindsight. Now, I am waiting to find out what my punishment will be.”
Despite his frustration, he praised the mental resilience of his team, noting significant improvement compared to last season. “We take plenty of positives from the game, though not necessarily in terms of possession,” he said. “David Moyes has done an exceptional job, and he made it a tough contest for us. However, the players showed great character.”
Jones’ red card and lessons learned
Slot also addressed Curtis Jones’ dismissal for his involvement in an altercation with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure. He emphasized that while Jones’ reaction demonstrated commitment, there are better ways to channel that energy.
“It’s unfortunate because we play so many games, and he will now miss one,” Slot noted. “He was returning from injury and had already been sidelined for a few matches. My plan was to start him against Plymouth, but he was not fully recovered.”
Despite the setback, Slot was pleased with Jones’ performance. “He played an excellent 30 minutes against Everton. That was the only period of the game where I felt we had some control,” he said. “I appreciate his passion for the team, but I’ll have a conversation with him about handling such situations differently.”
Slot also acknowledged his own emotional response after the final whistle. “Football is a sport driven by emotions, and sometimes those emotions lead to mistakes,” he admitted. “I certainly made one myself.”
