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Kaide Gordon’s Liverpool Future in Doubt After Frustrating Portsmouth Spell

Liverpool forward Kaide Gordon’s future with the club looks increasingly uncertain following comments from Portsmouth boss John Mousinho that suggest the teenager may not feature again this season — and possibly never again in a Liverpool shirt.

Loan spells can be make-or-break moments for young players, but Gordon’s journey since leaving Anfield on transfer deadline day has been anything but transformative. After a quiet stint at Norwich City, where he made just 10 appearances and scored once, the winger was recalled by Liverpool in January and quickly loaned back out — this time to Portsmouth.

Yet, Gordon’s fortunes have only declined. The 19-year-old has struggled for game time at Fratton Park, making just four substitute appearances. Despite Portsmouth having now secured their Championship status with two games remaining, Mousinho’s recent remarks make it clear that Gordon is far from guaranteed any late-season minutes.

Photo: IMAGO

Mousinho’s Comments Reflect Performance Frustrations

Speaking ahead of Portsmouth’s upcoming fixture against Sheffield Wednesday, Mousinho was candid about his squad selection process — and Gordon’s exclusion.

“I am not sure about team selection yet. There are going to be a lot of conversations around what we do on Saturday, but we still want to win the games, so that’s an important factor,” said the Pompey manager.

“We will take a view on all of those things, try to put a strong squad, look at opportunities which we might need to give players and go from there. We’ve had, all of a sudden, in the past few weeks, 25 fit players to choose from at times. It has left some players who have been really good this year for us, unfortunately, out of the squad, but the most important thing is for us to pick up results.”

It’s telling that Gordon, a former England youth international once touted as Liverpool’s next breakout star, finds himself on the outside looking in. Injuries hampered his progress significantly over the past 18 months, but it now seems that concerns around his performance and consistency are just as pressing.

Pathway Blocked at Liverpool Under Slot?

At Liverpool, opportunities for young attacking players are increasingly limited. Under new manager Arne Slot, there’s a growing emphasis on tactical discipline and intensity — qualities Gordon has yet to prove consistently at senior level. With the likes of Ben Doak, Stefan Bajcetic, and Lewis Koumas impressing in their loan spells or breaking into the fringes of the first team, the pressure is on.

Gordon’s name no longer features in development conversations with the same frequency as it once did. His limited impact at Portsmouth — a team that has fought relegation for much of the campaign — will not help his cause heading into the summer.

Photo: IMAGO

Honesty From Portsmouth, But What Next for Gordon?

Mousinho’s final remarks offered some sympathy but little encouragement:

“Kaide and Mark (O’Mahony) have taken it really well. I have tried to be honest with them about what I think they can do better with performances and why they have found themselves out of the squad. Some of it is about a bit of luck as well, with it also being crunch time at this time of the season. We’re just going to have to make decisions which we think are going to help the team.”

In truth, Liverpool now face a critical decision: Does Gordon still fit the long-term vision at Anfield, or has his development stalled beyond retrieval?

A permanent move might offer him a clearer path and less pressure, while Liverpool could reinvest in more consistent emerging talent. Either way, the clock is ticking — and Gordon may have already played his final game in Liverpool red.