Cody Gakpo Can Carry Liverpool Forward

Cody Gakpo's biggest strength is ball carrying on the left to generate chances. He is finally reaching his PSV Eindhoven form for Liverpool under Arne Slot.

Cody Gakpo has rarely featured in the pages of this newsletter, aside from having scored one of the five best goals since 2017. As he has barely played this season, it isn’t a surprise he hasn’t headlined a post.

Except that he has played. Along with Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah, the Dutchman is one of just three players to appear in all 10 matches so far this season.

The issue has been a lack of starts, not that this has held Gakpo back. He has made a goal contribution each time he has been in the XI, with two goals plus two assists across the matches with Milan, West Ham and Crystal Palace.

The performance delivered at Selhurst Park by the 25-year-old is worthy of further scrutiny on several levels, both in or out of possession. His most notable impact was the five chances he set up, not least in assisting the only goal of the game.

Gakpo had reached this creative benchmark 12 times in the Eredivisie but this was his first time doing so in the Premier League. Perhaps he is finally ready to deliver his PSV Eindhoven output on a regular basis in England.

Cody Gakpo’s stats vs Crystal Palace, via LFCTV Review Show

The Netherlands international also delivered a trio of both tackles and interceptions last time out, hitting both marks in one match for the first time in his career. For each of these defensive metrics, he was also only one off equalling his respective personal bests. To combine these numbers with a quintet of key passes is a rare feat at the top level of English football.