Arne Slot wanted to start Cody Gakpo for Liverpool but couldn't

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says he planned to use one start on Saturday but couldn’t. He then shone brightly against AC Milan.

Arne Slot paid tribute to Cody Gakpo after Liverpool's 3-1 win over AC Milan on Tuesday evening. The Reds' head coach had several players worthy of praise, but Gakpo was undoubtedly one of the standouts.

The winger made his first start of the season here and was a menace to Milan with his running all game long. He then capped off his display with an assist in the second half, finding Dominik Szoboszlai with a fine run and cross.

➡️ READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings vs AC Milan

But it appears this wasn't supposed to be his first start. That should have come on Saturday against Nottingham Forest - a fixture Liverpool ultimately lost at Anfield.

"I would have planned to play Cody on Saturday," Slot revealed to Amazon Prime after the game, "but Cody, for the first time, played two games with the Dutch national team and Lucho was more fit than Cody on Saturday.

"So that's why Lucho played. And now Cody did well."

Arne Slot's luxury

Slot is certainly spoilt for choice on that left wing. Diaz has started the season on fire, and now Gakpo has put in a magnificent performance at San Siro - one that certainly earned him more starts in the position.

In fact, with both firing, it'll be difficult for the new boss to balance the pair. And that's with Federico Chiesa arguably playing his best football in the role.

Right now, it's arguably Diaz's position to lose. His performances this season have been such that it'll take a very poor run of form to rob him of the first-choice role.

Gakpo, though, has offered an incredible reminder that he's ready to usurp his teammate rapidly. And that should make for a fascinating battle on Liverpool's left-flank.