Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Provides Cody Gakpo Injury Update And Hints At Rotation Against Southampton

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has provided an injury update on Cody Gakpo and hinted that he could rotate his side against Southampton on Saturday.

The Reds go into the clash with a 13-point lead at the top of the standings as they close in on the Premier League title.

Arne Slot’s side could have one eye on the second-leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against PSG at Anfield on Tuesday.

Liverpool were battered by the French giants yet emerged with a 1-0 victory after one of the best goalkeeping performances in Champions League history by Alisson.

Harvey Elliott scored with one of Liverpool’s two shots of the game with his first touch off the bench.

Slot, who will watch the Southampton game from the stands due to his two-match ban, provided an update on Gakpo’s injury during Friday’s press conference.

Arne Slot Provides Cody Gakpo Injury Update

Arne Slot revealed that Cody Gakpo is a doubt for Liverpool’s game with Southampton in an injury update on the Dutch attacker.

The Liverpool boss told the media: “He didn’t train yesterday, so let’s see if he can train with us today.

“Again [it will be a] close call. It’s not a long-term injury, but he still had a bit of pain yesterday so he was not able to train.”

Gakpo, who has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season has seen limited game time in recent weeks.

He missed games against Wolves and Aston Villa before making short cameos off the bench against Manchester City and Newcastle.

Gakpo made the trip to Paris Saint-Germain in the week despite having missed training in the buildup. However, he was not named in the 23-man squad on the night.

Liverpool Boss Hints At Rotation Against Southampton

Liverpool could make some changes to their side against Southampton as they prepare for their Champions League last-16 second-leg with PSG.

Cody Gakpo’s injury update means the Dutchman is not a player Liverpool are likely to bring in against Southampton.

However, the likes of Darwin Nunez, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo are likely to be names that Slot has under consideration to start on Saturday.

He told the media: “If there was three, four, five days in between the last game and this one I would have probably started the same 11 again, even if there was only two days in between for the next one.

“Since there is only two days in between and we had to fight really hard and it’s not the first game after being out for three or four weeks, it’s probably the 50th game in three months – I don’t know how many – so you take that into account but you take the quality from the team you face, you take the form of the players, how fit they are, which players fit best together.”

Liverpool could go 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League table by beating Southampton, before Arsenal visit Manchester United on Sunday.