The early plan for Cody Gakpo at Liverpool isn’t working. Jurgen Klopp simply must try something new to get the most out of the player.
When Cody Gakpo arrived at Anfield this month, it almost certainly wasn’t to be their first-choice striker. After all, it’s not actually a position the Dutchman enjoys, nor is where he played with PSV Eindhoven.
“I do have a clear preference,” he said late last year, per FC Update. “I prefer to play just behind the striker than in the striker.
“As ’10’, you can still look for the combination with the deepest man.”
Of course, when Darwin Nunez went down injured, it made sense to try Gakpo as a False 9, and it’s something we did see coming. Only Jurgen Klopp is sticking with it, even with Nunez coming back into the side.
We imagine there are two reasons for that. Firstly, Klopp is a big fan of how Gakpo defends the middle of the pitch. Liverpool’s press hasn’t been good enough this season but using the Dutchman there should help. He allows the midfield to sit a little deeper as he’ll cover the defensive midfielder when the Reds lack the ball.
“You can say we bought a striker and you talk about his defending, but his defending in this central position is outstanding, it’s what we need,” Klopp said recently, per the Athletic.
The other reason is that Gakpo plays the position as more of a False 9 than Nunez. He’ll drop a little deeper and, again, allow the midfield to ignore a need to link with attack. It’s the Roberto Firmino role and one Liverpool have relied on for years. They don’t need an attacking playmaker as their striker will do the job.
But we’re not sure it’s working.
Cody Gakpo at Liverpool
Gakpo started centrally against Brighton on Sunday and notably created zero chances and didn’t have any shots at goal. That’s, unfortunately, not a shock.
In fact, Gakpo is yet to create a chance from the position. Neither of his two Premier League outings – both as a striker – led to him creating chances. He did manage shots, though, with one against Brighton and seven against Chelsea. Few were on target, however.
Compare that to the False 9 Liverpool are used to in Firmino. He’s created a chance in 14 games this season, failing to create in six. That’s not just starts, either, but includes substitute appearances.
More tellingly, though, is the overall passing stats. Gakpo attempted 14 passes in the league game against Brighton, 13 against Chelsea and 19 on Sunday. Combine his Premier League numbers for 27 and you get the number Firmino attempted in 74 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur in November.
And that’s actually a particularly low number for the Brazilian. He attempted 44 in his last game against Southampton. His season-high is 54.
The point here is that while Gakpo may offer the defensive qualities that Liverpool need, he’s not providing any of the attacking output from that role. He struggles to get involved at all, creates nothing, and largely just has half-chances at goal.
Liverpool don’t function well going forward. That’s highlighted by the fact they didn’t score against Brighton or Chelsea in the league and managed just one in the cup. It’s an idea that just isn’t working.
When the Reds face Wolves this week, something has to change – and it means Gakpo moving away from the lone striker role.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
