Joining a struggling team is never simple. That has been the case with Cody Gakpo, Liverpool’s lone acquisition during the January transfer window this year.
On this week’s episode of Andy van der Meyde’s YouTube program, his new Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman commented, “You can tell that he has ended up in a squad that is not doing well.”
Then, as a new signing, it gets harder for him. You immediately undergo a test. It’s also really challenging if you don’t score, isn’t important, or don’t win any games, especially if you’re a rookie player.
After scoring three goals in five games to help the Netherlands advance to the World Cup quarterfinals, Gakpo, 23, was a surprise signing when he left PSV Eindhoven in his native country for an initial £37 million (about $44.5 million) in late December.
Despite the fact that Liverpool still needs to add reinforcements to the midfield, the move made sense because Liverpool lacked options for a left-winger. Gakpo was the sole new hope since those never showed up.
And his time in England has not quite started out as he had hoped. Gakpo has made six appearances in the Premier League and FA Cup, all of which were starts, and has played 497 minutes of football in total. With one point from four games and a minus-eight goal differential, Liverpool is likewise at the bottom of the Premier League’s 2023 form table.
Although Gakpo’s contract with Liverpool runs out at the conclusion of the 2027–28 season, manager Jurgen Klopp declared late last month that he was “totally pleased” with him. Liverpool has plenty of time to make the most of Gakpo given that he is under contract with the club until then.
Additionally, there have been talent bursts, which are really encouraging.
In the FA Cup match against Brighton on January 29, a 2-1 loss, one of these moments could be seen.
Gakpo, who is a center-forward when on the field, receives a pass from Stefan Bajcetic in his own half. Despite being swiftly closed down, he brushes off challenges from Lewis Dunk and Alexis MacAllister and then bursts through with passing possibilities on either side in Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez. Dunk pulls his jersey, resulting in a free kick for Liverpool.
The next weekend at Anfield against Chelsea, there was a similar incident when Gakpo’s high-pressing drew the attention of the crowd.
Gakpo runs back from his position as a forward to challenge Lewis Hall, who is now in possession.
They rush into Chelsea’s box as he reclaims the ball with others in tow.
Gakpo has passes left and right at his disposal, but he clutches at one that soars high towards the Anfield Road end.
Although the pressing activity was advantageous, Gakpo’s desire to score his first goal while wearing a Liverpool jersey let him down.
Perhaps some of his wayward shooting throughout his time with Liverpool has sprung from this eagerness.
He similarly hurried an earlier opportunity against Chelsea on the same day.
Salah plays a pass to his feet as he is unoccupied on the edge of the penalty box, but it is wildly off-target. Gapko can move to Andrew Robertson’s left if he chooses to pass.
Before leaving for England during the World Cup/winter break, Gakpo’s propensity to shoot at the first sight of a goal frequently paid off during his PSV days. He scored 13 goals in 24 games across all competitions.
He needs to have more poise because it appears that he is grabbing at poor opportunities right now.
Given his new club’s goal deficit and his desire to make an immediate impression as a new signing, there are two explanations for his hurried shoots.
Another is that he has played center forward four times in his six games so far and left forward twice. A little more consistency in his role and the players he plays with would make it easier for him to adapt to Liverpool’s style of play.
As the primary striker in this FA Cup third-round replay match against Wolves, he gets the ball from Fabio Carvalho on the edge of the box with two teammates waiting to his right.
Gakpo instead attempts a shot, but Jose Sa, the goalie, is unconvinced.
Two other shots from this game demonstrate Gakpo’s hasty shooting.
One came when he received the ball on the right and, in spite of having four Liverpool players on the goal line, had a shot that went over the crossbar.
In the second instance, Gakpo is handed the ball on the left wing. He is reluctant to move forward, holding the ball aloft while he waits for his teammates.
Gakpo, though, fails to pass to either of them when Carvalho and Naby Keita eventually come up to the action.
Keita is very well situated to perhaps receive the ball inside the box.
Instead of taking a daring long-range shot, Gakpo needs to maintain more composure and play in his midfield runner.
In addition, Gapko occasionally has a tinge of hesitation when in possession of the ball, as though he is overly concerned about dropping it. His ability to be creative, which made him so famous at PSV, is stifled by this.
Instead of dribbling forward, which he is skilled, quick, and close-controllable enough to do, he frequently opts for the straightforward pass back to his midfielders.
With less than 30 minutes left in the Premier League match against Wolves, Liverpool is trailing 2-0. At that point, Gakpo has a choice: turn with the ball and attack, or pass back to one of two available teammates to continue the move.
But because he does neither, he is tackled.
As his PSV highlights show, Gakpo can be electric when he plays with confidence.
Given the situation, it is not surprising to see him perform with uncertainty and a lack of confidence. The Premier League’s superior caliber to the Eredivisie is another evident contributing element.
The new player has the potential and qualities to accomplish the goals his supporters have for him, which is good news for Liverpool.
Gakpo’s skill set was perfectly encapsulated in a single play versus Brighton.
He brings the ball down, spins around one defender, then plays a one-two with Keita to get past a second.
He then charges ahead while being joined by Harvey Elliott and Salah.
Gakpo eventually threads a pass through to Salah while under some pressure, and if Tariq Lamptey’s sliding challenge hadn’t prevented the ball from reaching the Egyptian, Gakpo would have likely had an outstanding first assist for Liverpool.
It is clear that Gakpo will be a menace to Premier League defenses if he can exert this kind of effect more frequently and display patience when necessary.
He is talented and adaptable. All he needs now is calmness.