Liverpool star follows Ibrahima Konate to hand Arne Slot another selection problem

Cody Gakpo impressed when he came into the Liverpool team in Milan, just as Ibrahima Konate did at Ipswich, and now Arne Slot has a big call to make

Having fallen at his first hurdle when needing to rotate his Liverpool side, few looked happier with the Reds' performance and result at AC Milan than Arne Slot.

Yes Liverpool fell a goal behind in the opening exchanges - a hangover from Jurgen Klopp's final season perhaps, when it was a regular occurrence - but once they got their foothold in the game there really was only going to be one winner.

Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk's goals may have come from set-pieces, but there was an attacking intent on show from Liverpool in open play too, with the Reds ending the match having registered 23 shots as Mo Salah rattled the crossbar twice.

Salah would have been hugely frustrated not to score having come so close, but it wasn't a night for any of the Liverpool forwards to get on the scoresheet, with Dominik Szoboszlai adding the third in the second half.

That's not to say the forwards weren't involved, and indeed one of them was involved more than most.

Cody Gakpo made his first start of the season, and first competitive start under Slot, in the San Siro, and the head coach's fellow Dutchman was superb. Following on from his impressive form at the Euros, where he shared the Golden Boot, Gakpo repeatedly drove at the Milan defence, retained possession of the ball, won the majority of his battles, registered two shots on target and got the assist for Szoboszlai.

Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

It was a display which showcased everything Gakpo can do, and indeed what many have been expecting him to do for Slot ever since the former Feyenoord coach's appointment in the summer.

That Gakpo hadn't started for Slot until now was really down to two factors, his summer exertions and more pertinently the form of Luis Diaz, who scored twice against Sevilla in pre-season and took that goalscoring form into the campaign, notably with his brace at Old Trafford.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

Interestingly though, it was after the Milan win that Slot admitted he had hoped to give Gakpo a start on what became that fateful day at home to Nottingham Forest, only to be told that he was fatigued from his two games for the Netherlands. Gakpo was poor when he came on against Forest, but after a little extra rest he showed what he can do in Italy.

So, what now? Slot faces a choice between starting Gakpo or Diaz at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, having replaced one with the other in Milan shortly after Szoboszlai's goal. Resting Gakpo for Saturday perhaps? Maybe, but then Diaz has had a terrific start to the season.

With his intent on no doubt keeping his place, Gakpo could do worse than look to his team-mate Konate, who started the season out of the team but has been a fixture ever since coming on for Jarell Quansah at Ipswich on the opening day.

Image: AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images)

Could Gakpo do the same to Diaz, relegating the Colombian to the bench? It is a distinct possibility as the way Slot has spoken about his forwards suggests he sees them as paired off as two options for each position, with Gakpo and Diaz fighting for the one on the left.

That this is Slot's call to make is just another example of the riches he has at his disposal in his new job, and whatever he does on Saturday, having largely neglected rotation so far, promises to be one of the more interesting decisions of his brief reign.

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