© IMAGO – Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
A record-breaking starlet is ready to join Liverpool’s first-team.
Arne Slot is not going to have it any easier after the international break in November. There will be even more headaches for him to resolve and important decisions to make.
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A lot will hinge on the fitness of his star players. He will be hoping there will be no major injuries incurred by the squad. Because that is going to massively impact the season.
Giovanni Leoni’s knock has already had that impact on the club’s centre-back department. But an injury in midfield or in attack could also be detrimental.
One thing to keep an eye on is the African Cup of Nations. We are now less than a month away until Mo Salah is due to depart to join Egypt for the tournament.
That is going to have ramifications for Slot’s team. Salah, like every season since his arrival, has been ever present in the team.
He’s also got the most goal contributions (8) for Liverpool so far this season. Not having him in the side is a massive blow. Especially when the only possible replacement for him in Jeremie Frimpong is also ruled out with an injury.
Federico Chiesa could perhaps fill that role. The Italian is much better on the left or through the middle though.
There is another option. Slot has a record-breaking star hiding away in the club’s U21 team, whose recent performances confirm he’s ready to link-up with the first-team again.
We’re talking about Kaide Gordon. At a certain time when he was a teenager, he was regarded as a generational prospect. At 17-years-old he became the youngest ever player to score in the FA Cup for Liverpool.
It felt he was going right to the very top. But then injuries and a couple of unsuccessful loan spells last season have had a detrimental impact on Gordon’s confidence and career.
It’s why Liverpool decided to keep him back with the U21s this season, in order to rebuild his confidence and form.
That’s exactly what has happened with Gordon now establishing himself as one of the stars of the team.
Against Chesterfield in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night he bagged a brace to secure a draw for Liverpool. In the process he made it eight goal contributions in eight games.
His performances have been nothing short of impressive and with a brilliant cameo against Crystal Palace in the League Cup as well Gordon may have just confirmed he’s ready to join the first-team again and perhaps become an option for Slot in the absence of Salah.
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