Cody Gakpo could go into Liverpool’s derby sport with Manchester United pondering what might have been. A unique shade of crimson, maybe?
On Boxing Day, the Dutchman celebrated two years since his Liverpool arrival from PSV Eindhoven – although his story would have very completely different had Erik ten Hag efficiently took him to Manchester United earlier in 2022.
“I think it was the summer before that I was in contact with the club and spoke to the manager as well, obviously he’s Dutch,” he instructed Sky Sports activities at the beginning of 2024.
“But, at the end it didn’t go through and that’s just it. And in the winter Liverpool came. Best decision for me.”
It seems like some choice. With United coming into Sunday’s sport at Anfield floundering within the backside half – and forwards Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford struggling for kind, minutes and even appreciation from the house followers – Gakpo has emerged as a key cog in Arne Slot’s league leaders.
And although Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s star performer in assault this season – there may be completely little doubt about that – Slot is equally proper to ask the query: The place would his aspect be with out Gakpo?
Salah could also be main the scoring and help charts with 37 purpose involvements to this point this season. Gakpo, in the meantime, has contributed simply 5 Premier League objectives to Liverpool’s title cost – however just about all of them have been at essential moments.
Three of his objectives have been equalisers with Liverpool 1-0 down and struggling at residence. All large moments, all serving to Liverpool acquire factors, all – coincidentally – in entrance of the Kop.
The Boxing Day leveller to vary the sport towards Leicester, two extra towards Fulham and Brighton. There was additionally the opener in what was as soon as a title race showdown with Manchester Metropolis. On high of that, there’s the result-sealing strike over Actual Madrid within the Champions League. He additionally has 4 objectives in three Carabao Cup video games to this point.
All in all, Gakpo’s skill to show up for Liverpool in a number of competitions is greatest proven by him averaging essentially the most shot-creation actions per 90 minutes out of any ahead in Slot’s aspect. Not even Salah has contributed as a lot as Gakpo throughout all the board.
Gakpo’s kind epitomises how Slot has improved this Liverpool staff while not having to show to the switch market. Like different gamers reminiscent of Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch, the Dutchman seemed a bit misplaced settling into Liverpool life below Jurgen Klopp.
A part of his transformation in direction of being a key participant is right down to his transfer to the left wing. The ahead largely performed in that position at PSV Eindhoven however former Liverpool boss Klopp most popular him anyplace however there.
It was six months in the past, after Klopp left Liverpool and Gakpo went off to Euro 2024 with the Netherlands, when the 25-year-old discovered his previous self once more.
“At the Euros, I played as a left winger again. Then this season the new manager came in, I had a talk with him and he said, ‘you have to focus on the left winger position – this is your position when you come on or when you start’,” mentioned Gakpo earlier this season.
“Because he said there’s a lot of competition here, so you just have to show yourself. But he said, ‘that is going to be your position’.
“It felt a bit bit, for me, just like the previous me, like what I did at PSV as properly. I really feel actually good on this place. I attempt to present my greatest to everyone, what I am able to.
“I think I come into more one-vs-ones now with my face towards the opponent, where I can really go inside and give a cross, shoot or go outside and give a cross – which is more my game, I would say, and where I think I can be really dangerous and help the team the most.”
Gakpo has developed into an actual clutch participant for Liverpool, however that is changing into an actual crunch time for Arne Slot’s Reds.
With eight video games in January and a few tough challenges forward, the Dutchman could also be wanted greater than ever if Liverpool are to fly excessive throughout all competitions.
