Analysing Cody Gakpo to Liverpool.
Cody Gakpo has been dubbed one of Europe’s top prospects. Gakpo has progressed through the ranks at PSV, making 159 appearances for the club, and has shown improvement season after season, earning a debut for the Dutch National Team and going on to play an important role in their World Cup campaign.
His production has been one of his strongest suits, with 1.51 non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes in all competitions in 22/23. He’s also made a name for himself in the Eredivisie, where he leads the league in goals, assists, and key passes. It’s easy to understand the hype and worldwide acclaim when you look at the raw numbers and clips. However, it’s difficult to say whether Gakpo’s ceiling is as high as his statistics suggest.
Profile
Gakpo is 6-foot-2 and has mostly played on the left wing for PSV. He’s also played in a two-man front-line partnership for the Netherlands, as well as a no.10 role behind the two strikers. Despite his height, he is a ball-to-feet player who is more of a creator than a goalscorer.
Gakpo enjoys receiving the ball on the left side of the field and driving into the half-space. He can make runs into the box, but that isn’t really his game. Instead, Gakpo starts wide and drifts inside, where he combines with teammates, shoots from a distance, or creates opportunities for his teammates.
Ball-striking
Gakpo’s greatest strength, in my opinion, is his ability to shoot the ball convincingly. He can make clean contact with the ball and strike it with incredible power. What’s more amazing is that he can do it with both feet, which makes him slightly unpredictable.
It must be kept in mind that a majority of Gakpo’s goals come from this technique, rather than his off-the-ball movement, although he’s definitely scored a few from making runs.
Ball-carrying and dribbling
Cody Gakpo’s technical ability and security on the ball in the left-half space make him a threat there. He’s got the technique to evade opponents quickly and carry the ball into open space. He also possesses a bit of pausa, waiting for the perfect opportunity to arise before making a decision. He’s statistically one of the best dribbles in the Eredivisie, averaging 2.08 successful dribbles per 90. However, his best work is when he’s’ allowed to drift centrally into the half-space. While he is quick, he does not possess a great amount of acceleration which means he’s not quite elite in 1v1s, especially when asked to dribble from a standing start. Even though he is excellent centrally, his lack of speed means he is not consistent enough at beating his man on the outside (although he has done it). He’s much better at dribbling on the break, in transitional situations, so moving to a possession-based team, where he’ll be up against more settled defences and better players, will require some time to adapt and figure out his role.
Ball-carrying and dribbling
Cody Gakpo’s technical ability and security on the ball in the left-half space make him a threat there. He’s got the technique to evade opponents quickly and carry the ball into open space. He also possesses a bit of pausa, waiting for the perfect opportunity to arise before making a decision. He’s statistically one of the best dribbles in the Eredivisie, averaging 2.08 successful dribbles per 90. However, his best work is when he’s’ allowed to drift centrally into the half-space. While he is quick, he does not possess a great amount of acceleration which means he’s not quite elite in 1v1s, especially when asked to dribble from a standing start. Even though he is excellent centrally, his lack of speed means he is not consistent enough at beating his man on the outside (although he has done it). He’s much better at dribbling on the break, in transitional situations, so moving to a possession-based team, where he’ll be up against more settled defences and better players, will require some time to adapt and figure out his role.
Here’s a sample of Gakpo’s dribbling style.
Still, his ball-carrying is a valuable ability, as he’s managed to rack up a huge amount of goals and assists from it. When PSV have a chance to counter, Gakpo carrying the ball into space and releasing it at the right moment is a threat, and defenders can have a hard time stopping him in these situations.
Chance-Creation
Cody Gakpo’s ability to create chances from set pieces and open plays is another one of his selling points. Gakpo leads the Eredivisie in chances created and is second in big chances created. He can make passes to players running into the box and slot through balls (second in the Eredivisie), and is very good at combining and linking up with his teammates, but his in-swinging crosses into the far post are his main source of chances. His crossing is his most polished and relied-upon asset when it comes to chance creation. However, as predictable as his deliveries are, they are perfect and come in handy in a variety of game situations. Gakpo’s in-swinging crosses can pose a threat even against a low block where defences are compact.
Gakpo’s crosses are a deadly and reliable aspect of his game.
Question-marks?
Gakpo’s got wonderful qualities to succeed in the Premier League, but some concerns arise in certain aspects of his game.
As previously stated, his off-the-ball movement is a significant weakness. He’s shown flashes of it (goal against Senegal in the World Cup), but he’s never been able to replicate it consistently. This also implies that Gakpo’s scoring rate may be unsustainable. However, as previously stated, his ball striking is elite, which could lead to him consistently outperforming Son or Messi.
His lack of explosiveness to beat his man is also cause for concern, as top teams will have to adjust their systems to accommodate him and play him in the zones that suit him. It’s also possible that he could switch to playing as a no.10 or second striker. After all, he thrives centrally, and will be able to set up numerous chances for the team’s striker.
There have been many discussions of using Gakpo as a lone 9, but there’s a slim chance of it ever working. For starters, his aerial ability is poor, and he lacks the physical presence which also means his back-to-goal play is not elite. A switch to the number 9 position would require a significant change and development.
https://twitter.com/TheEuropeanLad/status/1597941966729523200
How could Liverpool use him?
Gakpo could mostly play as a left winger in Liverpool’s formation. Nunez and Salah playing means they have the potential to run the channels and cause problems with their movement. This system could certainly accommodate Gakpo in the left-half spaces, with Trent moving out wide to provide crosses, Thiago sitting deeper, and Robertson providing width on the left. Instead of needing to beat his man or make runs, Gakpo could be used in a more creative role, finding his teammates with crosses or cutting in and shooting.
The Verdict
Gakpo is a talented player. He has weaknesses(movement, dribbling) that definitely raise questions, but his skill set is still a useful one. He’s a very good ball carrier, an elite striker of the ball, and his crosses and set-piece chance creation are very lethal.
The move to Liverpool is a good one. Jurgen Klopp is known for his ability to develop forwards, and playing for the German could see Gakpo’s numbers and abilities improve even more. While it does not address their midfield issues, it does add to their attacking depth at a time when the squad is beset by injuries.
