Mohamed Salah has made Old Trafford his stomping ground since arriving at Liverpool, but it’s now time for someone else to take the mantle, and Cody Gakpo is a dark horse to do just that.
Unfortunately, due to a ‘minor’ muscle strain, Salah will miss the United game this Sunday. It’s a shame he won’t get to torment Liverpool’s bitter rivals one more time, but it could be a passing of the guard.
Possibly to Alexander Isak, or Florian Wirtz, or maybe even Gakpo. After all, he already has a stunning record against them at Anfield. Bringing that to Old Trafford is the task facing him now.
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Man United clash could be huge for Cody Gakpo
This trip to Manchester could not be coming at a better time for the Dutchman. Gakpo was excellent against Everton a couple of weeks ago, and he carried that momentum into the Palace game.
Next on the calendar is opposition he loves facing.
Gakpo has started three games against United, scoring in all three for four goals in total. All those games took place at Anfield, but with his form on the up, this could be perfect timing for him to establish himself as the Salah successor when it comes to inflicting damage at Old Trafford.
The season hasn’t gone as the 26-year-old would have hoped. He has found himself on the receiving end of some pretty intense fan criticism all year long, but recent weeks have seen him look more decisive, more confident, and more unpredictable in the final third.
Slot stands by Gakpo, and the idea of him leaving the club is fantasy talk. He just penned a new long-term contract and is clearly seen as part of the future at Liverpool.
The scrutiny he has come under hasn’t been without cause — he can be incredibly frustrating at times. That said, he has also helped Liverpool to some major honours and the output is usually consistent.
If he can continue to put on good displays, there’s no reason he can’t get fans back on side. And that’s the best outcome for everyone involved.
Getting on the scoresheet against Man United once again would go a long way towards that aim.
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