Cody Gakpo: A deep dive into his first year at Anfield

On the morning of Tuesday 8th August 2023, I messaged a friend of mine about a few LFC related things and finished the message by saying that Gakpo was absolutely essential to Liverpool now. The Reds had played Darmstadt, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, the night before in a pre-season friendly and won 3–1. There was some lovely attacking football on display as Liverpool’s starting front three of Diaz, Jota and Salah all found the net.

Despite not scoring himself, Cody Gakpo was, for me, the key player. It wasn’t obvious at the time whether he was playing as a Number 10 in a 4–2–3–1 or as the left sided Number 8 in the more conventional 4–3–3 we’ve come to know under Klopp such was the free flowing rotation allowed during the match but what was obvious was Gakpo’s ability to find space, protect the ball under pressure and drive towards nervous back peddling defenders were continuing to be key assets to the Liverpool attack.

Gakpo’s arrival at Liverpool last January from PSV was a surprise to most. The Dutchman had been linked heavily with Manchester United and he seemed destined for Old Trafford when, seemingly out of nowhere, Liverpool secured the deal. For those in the know, perhaps it wasn’t a surprise but for many it was the Liverpool we have come to know in the transfer market, deals being kept close to their chest until they are close to completion. We would see the same with Szoboszlai and Endo particularly the following Summer.