Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Wolves highlights ongoing issues with their wingers. Starting next season with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on the flanks signals deeper problems for the Premier League champions.
Performance Shortfalls Exposed
Salah netted Liverpool’s lone goal at Molineux but struggled overall, losing possession 28 times—12 more than any teammate. This marks the second time this 2025-26 season he has topped that unwanted stat, following 36 turnovers in a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. Despite eight goals (six from open play) and eight assists in 30 appearances, his output lags behind last year’s peaks.
Gakpo contributed four of Liverpool’s 15 shots but placed only one on target. Across the season, 25 of his 64 attempts have been blocked and 22 off target. His totals stand at eight goals and four assists in 37 games, down from 18 goals and seven assists in 49 last term.
Both players lack the pace, one-on-one dribbling, and explosiveness needed to unlock defenses. Until trailing 1-0, Liverpool’s attack remained passive, generating few chances and converting even fewer.
Ngumoha’s Emergence as a Solution
Seventeen-year-old Rio Ngumoha changed the game in a 30-minute substitute appearance. He forced a strong save from Jose Sa and delivered a pinpoint 92nd-minute cross that Virgil van Dijk headed wide. Despite a defensive lapse before Wolves’ winner, his pace and directness stand out.
Steven Gerrard emphasized this on TNT Sports: “For 65 minutes, Liverpool were desperate tonight, really poor. Didn’t create enough. Didn’t play at the right speed or the right tempo. They didn’t have enough quality. He [Arne Slot] has to start Ngumoha now. He’s coming on and doing more in a short space of time than Gakpo is doing in 65-70 minutes. He deserves to start now.”
Strategic Moves Ahead
Sources indicate Bayern Munich’s interest in Gakpo, who could fetch double the £37 million Liverpool paid in 2022. Salah remains attractive to Saudi Pro League clubs despite his reluctance for a bench role. Together, they earn £650,000 weekly, yet fail to deliver consistent threat.
Liverpool also battle late concessions, losing five matches in the 90th minute or beyond—the only Premier League team ever to do so in one season. Tactics, defense, and midfield need fixes, but wingers pose the clearest headache.
Summer targets like Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola, plus more minutes for Ngumoha, could inject the unpredictability and speed required to challenge again.
