In just half a season, Cody Gakpo has proven why he should be Liverpool’s choice to take Roberto Firmino’s place.
The goal Cody Gakpo scored was likely the simplest of his young career. However, that didn’t make it any less noteworthy.
In Sunday’s tense 4-4 draw at Southampton, which marked the end of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign, the Dutchman put the finishing touches on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s driven cross from just a few yards out. This was Liverpool’s third goal.
The striker came even closer to scoring than Gakpo did on his Reds debut in February, which also involved converting a low ball from Alexander-Arnold at the far post.
He finished the season with an impressive 20 goals and 20 assists in 50 club games thanks to his most recent contribution. While the majority were for his old team PSV Eindhoven (13 goals and 17 assists in 24 games), the 24-year-old’s return to Liverpool (seven goals and three assists in 26 games) will most inspire Jurgen Klopp.
It needs some context if it seems underwhelming in comparison to his PSV output. Gakpo was jettisoned from Holland in a potential £44 million deal over the holidays, moving to a new nation and a new league while being thrown into an underwhelming team that was nearing the end of a challenging season.
Additionally, a new position, at least for this season. Gakpo was introduced down the center of the Liverpool attack, where he made 18 of his 22 starts this season. He had previously been a attacking force on the left flank with PSV.
It made sense then why he had a little trouble getting going.
His January debut, like Luis Diaz’s the year before, added another dimension to Liverpool’s forward line, even though it didn’t quite produce the same obvious benefits. Gakpo, however, is better positioned than those who came before him to succeed Roberto Firmino in that role, so it’s still possible that will happen.
Finding a replacement for the Brazilian or a replacement for the false nine position, both of which have long been issues, has never before seemed so close to being resolved as it does now thanks to the increasing influence of Gakpo, who has played in every game since making his Liverpool debut. The Holland international is a natural successor thanks to his strong pressing, quick feet, willingness to drop in midfield (where he started one game), creativity, and game intelligence.
Additionally, Gakpo has developed a habit for the big game, similar to another popular Dutch player at Anfield, Dirk Kuyt. Along with netting a memorable hat trick against former suitors Manchester United and his first Liverpool goal in a Merseyside derby, he has also scored for Newcastle United, Leeds United, and West Ham United. Additionally, he was impressive in scoring three goals to help Holland advance to the World Cup quarterfinals in the middle of the season.
And according to Klopp, there is still much more to come from Liverpool’s attack in the upcoming campaign as he noted following the game at Southampton. He claimed that despite Diogo Jota being unavailable for the majority of the season, “you could see his influence.”. Throughout most of the season, Luis Diaz was unavailable.
During the winter only, Cody Gakpo visited.
Bobby Firmino missed a significant amount of the season. Completely new Darwin Nunez. “.
It goes without saying that Firmino is no longer available. His reputation will endure in Gakpo, though. The real false nine for Liverpool at the moment is the Dutchman.
