Liverpool has plenty of time to stew on a disappointing week. But that won't mean a break for most of the players, who are off on international duty — with some people expressing concerns over Cody Gakpo.
Patchy fitness for Gakpo has certainly contributed to Arne Slot's recent issues. He was judged unable to start against either PSG or Newcastle, and didn't really look fit to make an impact in either encounter when summonned from the bench.
But while injured players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley will remain at home to rehabilitate, Gakpo has regained sufficient fitness to be called up for the Netherlands. If he features from the outset against Spain tomorrow, it will be his first start since February 12 against Everton.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news as '$82M bid prepared' and Arne Slot 'eyes next Arjen Robben'
READ MORE: 'I've just seen exactly why Liverpool should be excited for what Arne Slot is about to do next'
And if history is anything to go by, he cannot expect to be wrapped in cotton wool by Ronald Koeman's coaching setup. Ryan Gravenberch once got himself into hot water when he elected to remain at Liverpool to try and build fitness rather than accept a call-up to the under-21s.
This was after he had arrived at Liverpool on deadline day, following a season of real frustration at Bayern Munich. He wanted to work his way into Jurgen Klopp's plans — but country over club is seemingly something of a dogma in the Netherlands camp, even at the expense of common sense.
Fans on Reddit have expressed fears that Gakpo will not be handled with sufficient care and caution. Slot clearly didn't even feel comfortable using him for any extended period in a cup final or a vital Champions League knockout game, but mere days later, there are no guarantees that Koeman will have any such reservations.
"I can't believe Gakpo is actually going", reads the top comment on one post, congratulating all of the Liverpool players who received a call-up. "Man looked like he could barely walk in his last two appearances."
Some of the replies suggested that Liverpool would at least be in close contact with the Netherlands camp. That is no doubt true, given that Slot's assistant Sipke Hulshoff was a part of the national team setup before coming to Anfield.
Even so, having released Gakpo, Liverpool has lost all real control over his minutes. The decision now ultimately lies with Koeman.
But football is a game of opinions. Another of the top comments suggests that Gakpo could benefit the most from some minutes over the international period, with the other players more in need of a break.
The bottom line is simple: Liverpool would like all of its players to return unscathed, and ideally energized. There is a Premier League title to be wrapped up.
Full list of Liverpool players on international duty: Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Alisson (Brazil), Luis Diaz (Colombia), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah (England), Ibrahima Konate (France), Kostas Tsimikas (Greece), Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary), Wataru Endo (Japan), Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Diogo Jota (Portugal), Caoimhin Kelleher (Republic of Ireland), Andy Robertson (Scotland), Darwin Nunez (Uruguay), Harvey Elliott (England U21), James McConnell and Trey Nyoni (England Elite League).
