Cody Gakpo: How the Liverpool striker turned an important determine for Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders | Soccer information

Cody Gakpo might go into Liverpool’s derby match towards Manchester United desirous about what might have been. One other shade of purple, maybe?

On Boxing Day, the Dutchman celebrated two years since he arrived at Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven – though his story would have been very totally different if Erik ten Hag had efficiently taken him to Manchester United earlier in 2022.

“I believe it was the summer time earlier than that I used to be involved with the membership and in addition spoke to the supervisor. He is clearly Dutch,” he stated. Aerial sports activities early 2024.

“However ultimately it did not work out and that is it. And this winter Liverpool got here. The perfect determination for me.”

This appears like a choice. With United heading into Sunday’s sport at Anfield struggling within the backside half – and strikers Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford struggling for type, minutes and even the appreciation of the house followers – Gakpo has turn out to be a cog key in Arne Slot’s league leaders.

And whereas Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s attacking star this season – there’s completely little question about that – Slot can be proper to ask the query: the place would his staff be with out Gakpo?

Salah could also be main the league in targets and assists with 37 targets to date this season. Gakpo, in the meantime, has contributed simply 5 Premier League targets to Liverpool’s title run – however virtually all of them have been at essential instances.

Three of his targets equalized with Liverpool trailing 1-0 and struggling at residence. All nice moments, all serving to Liverpool win factors, all – coincidentally – in entrance of the Kop.

The Boxing Day leveler to be a game-changer towards Leicester, two extra towards Fulham and Brighton. There was additionally the opening match of what was as soon as a title showdown with Manchester Metropolis. On prime of that, there may be the decisive objective towards Actual Madrid within the Champions League. He additionally has 4 targets in three Carabao Cup matches to date.

Total, Gakpo’s capability to characteristic for Liverpool in a number of competitions is finest demonstrated by the truth that he averages the best variety of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes of any of the aspect’s forwards. of Slot. Even Salah did not contribute as a lot as Gakpo throughout the board.

Gakpo’s type epitomizes how Slot has improved this Liverpool staff with no need to show to the switch market. Like different gamers resembling Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch, the Dutchman seemed a little bit misplaced settling into life at Liverpool beneath Jurgen Klopp.

A part of his transformation to turn out to be a key participant is because of his transfer to left wing. The striker performed that function extensively at PSV Eindhoven, however former Liverpool boss Klopp most popular him elsewhere than there.

It was six months in the past, after Klopp left Liverpool and Gakpo left for Euro 2024 with the Netherlands, when the 25-year-old was again to his previous self.

“On the Euros I performed as a left winger once more. Then this season the brand new supervisor got here, I had a dialog with him and he informed me: ‘It’s a must to consider the place of “Left winger – that is your place whenever you come or whenever you begin,” Gakpo stated earlier this season.

“As a result of he stated there’s a whole lot of competitors right here, so that you simply have to point out your self. However he stated, ‘this will probably be your place.’

“It jogged my memory a little bit of the previous me, of what I did at PSV as nicely. I really feel actually good on this place. I attempt to present everybody the very best of myself, this of which I’m succesful.

“I believe I am approaching extra 1v1s now, towards the opposition, the place I can actually get inside and make a cross, shoot or come out and make a cross – which is extra my sport, I’d say, and the place I believe I might be actually harmful and assist the staff as a lot as potential.”

Gakpo has developed into an actual clutch participant for Liverpool, however that is turning into an actual crunch time for Arne Slot’s Reds.

With eight video games in January and a few powerful challenges forward, the Dutchman could possibly be wanted greater than ever if Liverpool are to fly excessive in all competitions.

Watch Liverpool vs Man Utd live on Sky Sports Premier League this Sunday, kick-off 4:30 p.m. Stream the game with a NOW TV pass.