Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed Cody Gakpo is one of his first-choice players but the Dutch forward needs to fight for his place despite his recent form.

“I think in the second half of last season he scored a lot of goals. He’s a top player for Liverpool and that’s good,” Slot said.

“Of course he wants to be a regular starter, but with the circumstances he may not play every game, but he will play regularly and he has to compete hard with Luis Diaz, สมัคร ufabet who at the moment plays in the same position on the left and also scores goals.”

“So that’s normal. When you play for a club like Liverpool, you have two quality players for different positions.”

“If you look at the way Joe Gomez and Jarrell Quansah play, maybe they were unlucky with the goals we conceded but I like their performances as well. They are competing with Virgil Van Dijk and Ibou (Konaté).”

“That’s what you have when you play for Liverpool, but for me Cody has been one of our regular players this season, we just have to have competition in the team.”

Gakpo has started three of Liverpool’s last four games in all competitions, but was a substitute in Sunday’s draw with Arsenal.

The 25-year-old scored twice as the Reds edged past Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.