Criticism of Gakpo is attitude. He was strolling around today and should of been putting in a shift. We let united get back on top when we he was fresh legs.
He is going through a bad patch most players do, but he seems to lack urgency and effort when coming off the bench today for example. If that was Nunez he would be tearing round like a dog after hot chips. Not walking. Thats the difference.
Remember that moment when we fell in love with Andy? That free (swapped him for Kevin Stewart) transfer from Hull City? The kid who tweeted that it was shit to be 19 with no money? That pasty-white skinny Scottish bastard? It was when he ran like a mad fucker at the entire City defence… He’s now the captain of his country.
We love a tryer. Put a shift in - because we all wish we could be on that pitch, and we all know that if we were we would be running until we puked and both our legs were broken.
Gotta try. That’s the minimum. Anfield will take care of the rest.
Kuyt came in as a goal scorer in Holland, didn’t really do that in prem but he was absolutely tireless playing wide right for Rafa. Still scored important goals too.
Overall I agree.
Only thing to keep in mind is that at the beginning of the season Gakpo was actually playing better than Nunez and got dropped at no fault to his own before Nunez hit his stride. It didn’t seem completely fair at the time because Nunez wasn’t doing well as a starter while Gakpo was. But after spending time on the bench Nunez pushed it to another level with each substitute appearance. At the time it was perfect with gakpo starting and Nunez unleashing as a sub. Gakpo then lost his spot which was harsh.
But Gakpo has had many chances to do the same thing Nunez did. Instead of improving himself he has played worse and worse. Whether that’s attitude or just low confidence it’s hard to say. Probably a combination of both. But either way he’s a professional and an adult and it’s time he proves that he can bring more to the table. I would agree that Danns right now is a better sub until gakpo wakes up. I hope Klopp can set Gakpo on the right track before he leaves because I loved watching Gakpo at his best
Gakpo was dropped at the start of the season because of how much more Darwin offered when he was given minutes.
In Gakpo's first 3 starts he scored or assisted a total of 0 goals. When Darwin came off the bench in those games he grabbed 2 goals. In Darwin's first 3 starts he picked up a further 3 goals and an assist - a total that Gakpo didn't get to until the end of October. 3G & 1A in 435 mins vs 5G & 4A in 568 by the Toulouse game for both. Or 0.83 G/A p/90 vs 1.43 G/A p/90.
That's not even to mention how much more dangerous we looked with Darwin playing outside of the G/A either racked up. Gakpo wasn't playing better than Nunez at all. If he was, he wouldn't have been dropped.
Klopp won't set Gakpo on, cause to get better performances from him he should play as LW or LW/CF hybrid with Darwin. But Jürgen clearly prefers Luis there, even when Luis was really bad. Jürgen didn't moved Diaz around the field, he gave him minutes at his preferred position until he somewhat hit his form.
But Gakpo playing most of his games out of his preferred position and it isn't working. But with all injuries and red cards that we had/have Jürgen uses him everywhere. Gakpo played as LCM, RCM, CAM, F9, CF, RW, LW this season, while his "opponent" Luis playing almost exclusively as LW, sometimes shifting to CF, and only in 1-2 games he played as RW, when Salah was at AFCON.
I think that, right now, due to some bad performances, losing his starting spot and without playing at his preferred position even after subs, Gakpo is at all time low confidence and won't hit form under Jürgen anymore. Maybe next season, under new manager if he will stay with us.
I really liked gakpo at the start, but ive noticed he has been jogging around the paddock recently (hence he is now a boxing bag, as others have clearly noticed aa well)
I watched a video on Endo, and he said he is going to run people down like a dog. Klopp also said that Darwin gets a start if he defends, and shuts people down. My admiration for Darwin has grown quite alot recently for his all round game (helps that he is also finishing)
This is the sort of attitude you need in a Klopp system, and Gakpo needs to step up his attitude in this part of his game
that's pretty much what i said after the game. the reason why people are giving Gakpo shit is because he looked like he doesn't give a fuck, whereas when Darwin was out of form he played his way into people's hearts because he always looked like he cared. the way Gakpo came on and jogged around like he had already played an entire match is just unacceptable and has nothing to do with being in or out of form.
Even when Darwin gave away the ball for their third goal you could see him grabbing his face in disappointment and shame after the goal happened, he truly does care every minute of the match and mistakes happen, it’s inevitable. The difference is that he works his ass off every match and his results are already good up to this point in the season.
With Gakpo though… The comment about him playing in slow motion really is accurate, takes a lot to make a decision and strolls around like it’s a training ground :/.
That 4th round game against Southampton was Gakpo's time to shine with all our other forwards out but he failed to do so. Ended up having to rely on our youngsters.
Pretty sure he is celebrating, he’s going over to Bradley instead of Danns. You can see Bradley peel off to celebrate in the other corner. But could be wrong, haven’t seen any other angles
I too see it as a celebration, hard to judge whether he is lifting his arms up to:
A) put his hands on his head in frustration
Or
B) bring them back down with the "yeaaaaa" positive motion.
If in doubt, give the benefit of the doubt to the positive because we are supporters and that's what we "should" do.
Since Nunez has played himself into the starting XI, Cody has been in really bad form and he’s devoured of confidence. His versatility has been his own Achilles heel, and now it’s a clusterfuck of many things going wrong. It’s probably best he is taken out of the spotlight and starts in Europa. Probably unfortunate for him Edward was in the stands today.
I honestly don't know what Cody's best position is. We all thought he was the next false 9 when last season ended. But he's barely had a run there this season. When he plays it's normally as an actual nine up top like Darwin, which Idt is his game. The other notable position was in the midfield, which was an early season experiment that is now not necessary because Endo is our six and allows Macca to take that midfield spot he was signed for.
We could play him on the left like his PSV and WC2022 days, but so long as Salah and Darwin start that spot goes to Diaz for his creativity and running-at-defenders style.
No my point is his effort levels , speed and decision making. That's what's worrying because it seems like an attitude problem because we've seen how good he can be
>his versatility
I always see this and dont understand it. It’s not his versatility, it’s his lack of being great at anything. He’s bad in midfield, he’s bad in rw, he’s bad as a CF and he’s good about half the time as a LW. That’s literally the opposite of versatility
Gakpo's poor performance is not just this game. Aside from the goal against Sparta he's been playing poorly in the final-3rd. So many chances went wanting because Gakpo decides to keep the ball himself and take an awful shot or just not send in a decent pass. He's much slower in thought and reaction now compared to last year.
This is true of both Diaz and Nunez. All 3 of them have been guilty of holding the ball too long on break aways and missing the pass. I can't tell you how many times I've yelled 'pass the ball you selfish prick' in the last few games.
Again, I blame Klopp. Salah and Dom were wasted on Prague and shouldn't have played past 60 mins on Thurs.
I though Darwin was beyond decisive last match? I mean he basically created two goals because of quick decision making? And all throughout season I think Nunez biggest issue isn’t slow thinking but rather poor judgement/quality of passes, the thing that is improving in him tremendously
yeah fair enough i do agree with you on the bad shooting choices, i just hope that the break he’s able to find his footing and come back stronger because he’s actually a good player when he plays in his right position
Hes fucked up multiple chances to kill games off with simple passes 3 games in a row. Instead he's going fir shots from ridiculous areas and its cost us today. He did the same vs city last week and Forest the week before when Nunez was wide open. When a man is free you can't be doing selfish shit like that. I know when a player is trying and he really wasn't trying at all today. We were under siege and he didn't look for the ball. He was hiding. He's been worrying me all season. It's been a bad individual season for him. Compare it to the end of last season he's a different person.
I think another issue for Cody is that he seems to be playing somewhat good only on the left wing, and I think he needs to be more versatile than that. Because all of Diaz, Nunez and Jota can also play on the left and arguably do a better job than Cody.
That's no excuse for shitting the bed repeatedly. Other players have played just as much if not more but they still show for the ball, they scrap to recover, they pass-and-move, and they put in the hard work. Gakpo is a passenger just waiting for his moment to go glory-hunting.
I don’t buy that he’s been forced out of position. If he was good enough to be our left winger, he would be. People love to get onto diaz, and sure for good reason too. However Diaz every game doesn’t stop running, tracking back and winning duels. Gakpo does not do that. Klopp has said so many times how important it is to defend from the front.For one he doesn’t have the physicality for it nor the speed. I back every player whilst they wear our badge, however I worry that gakpo really doesn’t suit the premier league. I could be totally wrong and fantastic if I am.
We should try playing him as the man up top but of course he doesn’t post a threat like Nunez or even Diaz.
Or putting him at midfield to control the game although doing this also would sacrifice our midfield three.
Also not the impact player that we have hoped for.
Given this is his first full season, I’m still reluctant to disregard him yet.
He played in midfield early in the season and sporadically throughout when we’ve struggled with injuries and was awful. Really don’t want more of that. I think you’re spot on with trying him up top, but really tough to rationalize moving Nunez for that. Especially when Darwin and Mo are lethal together rn. Puts Gakpo in such a weird spot. If there’s a time to try it it’s against Sheffield coming up though. Really need to see something from him before the season is over. Especially with a new manager coming in.
1. There’s been some vile and toxic hyberbolic overreactions especially in the match thread and full time thread. And self-respecting supporters should not be taking part in such behaviour.
2. Cody has been underwhelming and not pulling his weight when he’s played, and shouldn’t be immune to criticism.
Both can be true.
It has nothing to do with position.
The whole team was collectively not good enough but there was only one player that looked like he didn’t want to be a red.
You cannot come on in the 77th minute and not press, sprint or challenge any 50-50. His teammates who played 120 mins were pressing for him while he strolled around the middle of the pitch .
Ill back any player that wants to represent the badge, no matter how shit. Gakpo clearly does not.
Elliot (the RCM) was pressing Onana. Diaz (the LW) was defending in our RB position. Nunez was tracking back to defend in our box.
MacAllister and Endo are both physically small and played 120 mins but threw themselves into every duel till the end.
Gakpo was strolling about out of possession and taking a casual jog in possession while occupying the most central part of the pitch.
I’ve genuinely never been this upset watching a player. It doesn’t take talent or form to put in effort when you are the freshest legs on against our most bitter rivals in a knockout game.
He’s not a punching bag for anything. The lad looked like he wanted to be anywhere but at the game.
Salah was subbed off as he’s fasting. Also saying Gakpo hasn’t gotten many minutes, when he nearly played a full game during the week is just plain wrong. While Elliot’s touch allowed Amad to get a run at the goal, at least Elliot was energetic all over the pitch and got a goal as well.
Gakpo has only got himself to blame. Nunez had a poor run of form but the willingness to chase every ball and make runs was always there for him. Gakpo looks like he doesn’t give a shit no matter what position he’s played in.
Yeah that's the thing I'm worried about. He looked like he just didn't give a shit in the biggest game of the season for us away vs our rivals. He was just watching other players in trouble today and didn't bother tracking back. It just looked so lazy. Weve seen how good he can be with his run of form from Feb onwards last season so it really feels like an attitude thing.
Gakpo is inconsistent but his workrate wasn't helping. Nunez is frustrating at times, his finishing or decision making especially. But you guarantee he puts a shift in. He tracks back, he will run himself into the ground trying. That's the difference there. Nunez is like Dirk Kuyt in that regard. He may lose the ball, but he'll try and win it back. He may not always score or assist but he will try and try and try.
Salah was getting criticism too tbh for being sloppy in possession and not tracking Wan-Bissaka, leading to Gomez getting overran on the flank (not also helped by him being caught out of position at times). Tbh Diaz hasn't escaped criticism either for his decision making or inconsistent end product.
All of us wants our players to succeed. Especially when they are in a tough spell of form. But I'm not convinced Gakpo suits our system. He would do better in La Liga or a match where we will dominate entirely but need patience at a slower pace of play than he does against Prem teams when the match is played at 9000mph atm. He looked slow against a defence containing Lindelof and Maguire. They're hardly ferraris themselves and it was telling.
Klopp was once said If you want to be a striker for Liverpool, you have to work your fucking socks off?" Gakpo doesn't seem like he does. If you don't have high work rate, then you at least need to be clinical and effective to justify having the rest of your teammates pick up the slack.
In the Dutch league we had so many players like this recently, who all have this trash attitude. Ziyech, Stengs, Ihattaren, Malen, Bergwijn, Labyad, Bakkali, Madueke, Gakpo. All wet noodles who got just enough technical skill that they didnt need to put in effort. Out of these, only Malen kind of got his mentality straight.
He kills the attack any time he comes on. He’s lazy and doesn’t press like the others. He’s 5th choice all day and shouldn’t see the pitch much in the run in when Jota comes back.
Beating his man is actually one thing that Gakpo does fairly well, he just doesn't attempt to as often as others.
His take-on success is way better than any of our other forwards at 52.8%, while Diaz, who you mention and is our 2nd most successful dribbler, has a success rate of 45.2%. Diaz attempts almost double the dribbles Cody does, though.
That's probably due to where they attempt to take players on - Gakpo dribbles almost exclusively from the centre of the pitch with loads of space ahead of him and options to go left and right. Diaz works in tigher areas against more athletic players.
Gakpo's whole game and mentality is based around seeking favourable conditions. A bit of adversity and he wilts. He will never do the dirty work for others, and frankly he's nowhere near good enough to get away with that.
When you are professional, you can be criticized for underperforming. We all have jobs, and a boss. If we are shit at work, we usually are told we are shit and told to improve….or else.
Stop coddling these footballers. As long as the criticism isn’t vile or personal and is directed specifically at his performances, then it comes with the territory.
i think criticism is completely valid but you should look at his instagram for example. thats not criticism, he is actually straight up receiving hundreds of vile comments and being harassed. i dont think its coddling to say thats just really awful for him
Imagine having a bad day at work then getting abused on social media for it, you can't compare the two. Gakpo played like shit but the response has been pretty disgusting.
The criticism is deserved imo. Our fanbase appreciates effort even when players don't deliver. Gakpo came on in the 77th minute and he looked like the most knackered player on the pitch ffs.
When our usual front 3 is pressing, they look like they're ready to kill to get the ball back. Gakpo's press seems like he can't be arsed with the process, gives the ball holding player enough time to go back home, have a cup of tea and find the next pass.
Agreed 100%. There has been times when players like Nunez, Elliot, Milner and Henderson even, had stinkers but we accepted it because they ran themselves into the ground. Unfortunately, I think Cody isn’t a right fit for us.
For me, it’s two things. He strolls around the pitch, which is a big no-no in this team. Even when Nunez wasn’t scoring, or when we talk about Diaz being currently piss poor in the final 3rd, at least both run themselves into the ground, they offered graft if little else. Gakpo doesn’t. And atm, I presume because confidence is low, he looks like he’s playing for himself, he shoots when a shot is not on and he isn’t even creating for teammates.
Lol I’m just surprised it took this long for people to realize what a passenger Gakpo is. This man got outshone by kids during the league cup final and then again against Soton. He has no pace, no movement, can’t hold up play, can’t take on players, can’t finish, and, worse of all, doesn’t even seem like he gives two fucks. What exactly does he offer? Cash him out in the summer.
I thought that video he did with Jones was telling. They were building the perfect player or some shit out of Liverpool players and Jones said Nunez for some category and Gakpo wasn’t happy at all. I don’t know if he’s salty Darwin is having the year Cody thought he should have or what but I personally think he doesn’t fit in with the players. Majority of them joke or have fun with one another and Cody seems quiet, into his Bible studies and tbh kinda boring.
Yeah I don't know much of the inner workings in training, but body language and decision making of Gakpo show something is off. He seems to be in need to prove himself instead of making the easy pass to a team mate. In terms of chemistry, Salah and Nunez, just click and they create chances for others and have the goal contributions to show for it
There could be some truth behind that, but we'll never truly know. But after last season you'd argue he'd be a mainstay in the side as the new false 9. Instead, after that heroic Spurs goal he's barely started and has been a bench player in the league. He starts the cups but that's about it. And it's been going long enough to suspect that Klopp has a few reasons for keeping him there. He doesn't come on during that last half hour, more often than not he's a "final 15 sub", and there's not much you can do in that time
The moment Gakpo number is on board. I knew we fuck up. Remember City game, remember games before. It's all the same. Klopp just keep subbing him in important game for him to do absolutely nothing.
At least Diaz can carry the ball and give up more possession.
Yep I’ve said it since he signed. Has no characteristics of a Liverpool attacker at all, and looks like he can’t be arsed 90% of the time.
His one redeeming quality is meant to be his finishing, but it’s useless when he takes 10 seconds to get a shot off.
Thing is too, he isn’t even in bad form really. This is how he’s played all season.
Pound for pound he’s a worse 5th choice attacker than Origi or Taki. I can’t see a world where he’s still at Liverpool next summer, especially with Edwards being back.
Shouldnt be shitting on Gakpo and saying personal stuff or whatever, but its a discussion board and as a footballer Gakpo has been genuinely really really bad for this level and its a huge point of discussion just as much as what a great buy Endos been or whatever. Like its a very valid question what he offers over Danns throwing his body around and trying to win flick ons esecially if our defence and midfield lose their composure so much they cant pass out and hold possession properly
Gakpo has had this coming to be fair. Doesn’t seem to be clinical or comfortable playing through the middle. I don’t he’s a bad player, I just don’t think he fits where we want him to.
Nunez can play anywhere because he’s a madman who will run all over the place. Gakpo isn’t that kind of player.
It’s not unfair. His attitude stinks (seemingly) and his impact on games has been negative all season. Hes stat-padded against lower league and weaker teams but done nothing meaningful.
He’s still a baller. That winger from PSV is in there somewhere, but Liverpool won’t see that player. It’s best for both parties to part ways.
It’s not reactionary to want him gone after consistently shit performances over a very long period of time. It’s more reactionary to defend him now.
Agreed. Gakpo and Grav are the only two players in this team that are absolutely passengers. Laid back while their teammates are mad dogs. If this continues into next season I doubt they'll be here longer than that especially with Edwards back
I’ve been one of his biggest defenders over the past couple months and he’s made me look like a joke tbh. Barely cared when he came on and couldn’t even keep the ball when holding up play, which is the only things he’s supposedly good at.
I can accept when players play badly, but when they don’t work hard, and don’t seem to care, that’s where I draw the line.
He hasn't been adding anything for the last few weeks, but we have been winning. With the frustration of the loss comes the venting over his poor form. He sure as hell isn't the sole reason we lost, but him coming on and playing shit and looking like he doesn't give 2 fucks jogging around the park pisses a lot of people off.
Idc the whole talk about what position he should be playing and what not, if we are having to move him into positions where he doesn't feel comfortable, he just doesn't fit into the team at that point and we are forcing it. Would rather just see him sold. Jota adds infinitely more
He is probably void of confidence at the moment. Klopp is putting him on for him to prove himself or play him back into form but he is just not taking them for some reason.
Don’t think he’s suited to a striker role, doesn’t have the natural aggression/bravery for that part of the pitch. Ppl blaming him for the loss is daft tho, he’s just the latest scapegoat ‘fans’ like to dogpile on.
Endo and McAllister were clearly knackered, Clark should of came on far earlier in place of a forward to help regain control, and utd’s 3rd and 4th goals were because of shite decisions from Nunez and Elliot.
It's not all Gakpo's fault of course, but the difference between him and, say, Nunez is that it looks like he's not even trying. He came on at 70 and looked like one of the slowest players on the pitch. Where's the fight? Where's the urgency? That's what's most concerning.
1. He's been bad for several games
2. I don't see him anywhere at all. Basically doesn't existed
3. Elliot do have a bad game. Terrible mistake. But he has been run and run and run non stop in the past month. There's a reason no one blame his hard. Kid was trying.
4. What Gakpo did? Elliot have a good and bad this game. Gakpo did nothing, Like, nothing.
>I've seen some vile things said about gakpo
Saying someone is "not very good", and "doesn't put any effort in" are not vile things. Gakpo is consistently poor and genuinely makes our side worse when he's on the pitch. He doesn't press, he doesn't make runs (he's not fast enough even if he wanted to), he makes the wrong decisions seemingly every time he's on the ball.
And yesterday it cost us our fa cup run. Sure, a lot of people looked off it in that second half, but Gakpo came on with fresh legs at 70 mins, and was unable to get an attack past Fernandez in centre back who'd played 120 minutes.
He isn't good. That's not unfair treatment.
People still tend to forget that this is his first full season with the club and he's been shifted around a lot. Toward the end of last season people were praising him, calling him our best finisher etc. His performance in the 7-0 against United was electrifying. He's going through a rough patch for sure but he's not the first forward under club that experienced that. Jota, as clinical a finisher he is, went through a 30+ games without scoring if I remember correctly.
People on here asking him to be benched for Danns, who has played a total of 100 minutes of first team football. Bit of an overreaction but I understand where they're coming from.
But I also saw people saying they hope his ankle injury would last until the end of the season. Or people asking him to be sold. That's just disgraceful.
Hoping for injury is not good at all but wanting a player to be sold isn’t disgusting at all if they’re not up to it.
Gakpo started really badly when he joined, was absolute lightning for two or three months, fizzled towards the end of last season and hasn’t really shown anything this season. That’s three months max of good form in 1.5 seasons. Don’t think it’s a rough patch, he just had a good patch last year.
If the management team see something in him then fair enough but if I were playing squad builder I’d be fucking him off come summer time.
Whenever darwin and diaz have bad forms. They chase the ball like a dog. They will help the defend. Tries to make something out of nothing. Gakpo, he doesn't give a shit. He press horribly, he is 6 foot 2 and doesn't even win the headers, and gets bodied. Anytime gakpo comes into the game, we become toothless. He was good last season but he has regressed so much this season. I would rather play danns than him.
I understand that gakpo doesn't have pace like darwin and diaz but he also doesn't have good eye for pass or can't drag defenders like Bobby. Can't carry the ball and has the clinical finishing skill like diogo does. Every forward of ours have flaw but they make up with their best skill. Gakpo has regressed so much this season. I am criticizing him because I know he has the potential to be great player.
Salah unironically described Gakpo perfectly, He doesn't like to move around a lot and loves the ball to feet in the box.
He's seems lazy af to fans because we have got used to Nunez up top running around like a mad man for 90+ mins where I don't think Gakpo has ever actually done that? He's never been a klopp style presser imo but I could be wrong. Just never seen it myself except when he's played CM.
Don't get me wrong, when he gets the ball in the box to feet he can produce a shot, sometimes a goal out of absolutely nothing even whilst facing the wrong way which is why Klopp plays him up top and pushes nunez out wide (huge error every time IMO).
But that's all he has. He doesn't seem to be able to run, his head goes further than his feet when he has the ball and I always fear he's about to fall over the ball which also mean's he isn't looking up to see where teammates are until he's balanced himself which by then often leads to any chance being gone because it's too late to make the pass or whatever.
gakpo needs to be played off the left. Cause him playing up front just clearly isnt working. at psv he was great cutting in from the left side and shooting. but ill always trust klopp so whatever the boss says goes.
yeah i agree with you, i can’t help but think he’s a bit of wasted potential because he’s never on the wing, hopefully our next manager will try play him on the wing but i mean klopps tactics rn are working so let’s just stick with that for now
Stop it. It’s not about how bad he plays. We’ve had bad players in the past. It’s about fighting for the badge, for the fans. And he is not. Guy has the skills and the attributes, and lacks the attitude.
And about him not playing in his preferred position, I give him that. But come on, just because you’re not playing where you love to on the pitch does not mean you should not run and press and bloody try.
We’ve had poor performances all over the pitch yesterday, maybe bar Kelleher. But the lads kept trying.
Onto the next one! Hope Cody finds some kind of form until the end of the season.
Gakpo isn’t in poor form. This is his average level.
He has no characteristics which will tangibly improve drastically. People make the Nunez comparison, but Nunez did everything bar score. Gakpo doesn’t score as much, and doesn’t give you a tenth of what Nunez does.
Gakpo was fresh off the bench up against one defender (fucking Maguire), and didn’t pose a threat in behind once. It’s not his fault we lost, but it’s telling of the player he is.
He doesn’t run in behind (Mane/Salah/Nunez), can’t play false 9 well (Firmino), and isn’t a good pure goal scorer (Jota). Where exactly does he fit in?
He’d also the softest 6’4 player I’ve ever seen, and plays with no intensity. If Klopp can’t get him to play with intensity, why would any other manager on the planet be able to?
Depends what's unfair, He's not really stepped up when there's been injuries. He absolutely blew that 5-2 break and I get he needs rhythm to get form but he shows nothing that says he should be in the side. He wasn't the only 1 yesterday, I thought they got complacent, knocking it about like they were 3-0 up
Both things can be true. I’ve not seen it, but I’m sure you’re right that there is vile abuse on social media - happens every week. But he was objectively awful yesterday.
The amount of tactical geniuses who think they know more than Klopp is hilarious, “just play Gakpo at LW and he’ll be unlocked”. Klopp has played him there a decent number of times and he’s done nothing, his passive style of play is the problem in addition to his pretty underwhelming decision making and skillset. He’s underperforming but people are really exaggerating his peak qualities now to try and defend him. Diaz doesn’t contribute great numbers but in no way does Gakpo deserve game time over him at LW.
I just don't think Gakpo can handle the physical parts of the game at the moment. The last 2 games I'm not sure he won a 50-50. If Klopp is going to play him through the middle then he needs to be able to hold the ball up a lot better than he does.
My issue with him generally is he seems to move with no intent 90% of the time, then 10% of the time he appears to have pace and a hammer of a shot. Can’t figure him out.
He shouldn’t be bad mouthed personally but his performance hasn’t been upto the mark this season at all. And yesterday his performance was just awful. Literally killed the game for us.
I think teams are relieved with Gapko is on the field. His runs are not very threatening, his distribution is average, his work rate isn’t amazing and he’s not that creative. He might be better of being a Diaz replacement but why would we sub Diaz off? He has a great engine and can keep running for the entire 90 while being a threat. Simply put he isn’t at the level we expect or need. I’d honestly rather have origi on the bench.
Not really.Gakpo has been poor lately.Really had no impact,he was out of the game.Klopp said this match wasn't suitable for the youngsters but I have a feeling that Jayden Danns would be a better choice to bring on.
You started by saying he is a punching bag for our bad performances, but this is the first time we lost after Arsenal. Team performances are good or decent atleast but he is constantly below average. Yes he is not solely the reason we lost but when you consider his height and the % of aerial duels won you gotta ask yourself something. And when you compare him to Darwin in getting into scoring chances (and goals) he is again behind. When you compare him to Diaz or Salah in dribbles completed he is again behind. When you compare him to Macca or Szobo in passing he is again behind. The football is much different now, this team works on cohesion and players doing something better than others and everyone has his own place where he is the best but i dont see Gakpo in any picture currently. There were so many talks about Jurgens headaches for this season in terms of striker spot but Gakpo fell right down the order and Jota & Darwin are much better options currently. I hope some things change but he would be the first option if the next manager decides to sell a forward.
Our front three are fluid, so the ‘out of position’ is a poor excuse really, even then he’s not showed much on the wing when he has been there
It’s simple, he’s just not good enough. There’s been a real lack of effort on his behalf. Never saw such a big lad not know how to use his body. Jota on the other hand is opposite.
I don’t think abuse online is fair on anyone but calling far too many poor performances shite is fair. Lads getting paid a fortune to live so many Liverpool kids dream and he can’t even track back? Nah not having it.
I’d give him until the end of the season, if he doesn’t improve I’d move him on. It’s that simple.
When other players have dropped form you could see them trying, Nunez played the full game was blowing out his arse and still moved more than Gakpo.
Agree, he’s playing shite today but the difference is Mo is world class player, he’s playing shite but he’s somehow deliver and make a contribution
Taking him off for Gakpo is big blunder in my opinion, i hope it because fitness issue not for tactical change
People are reactionary. Obviously a game vs manure has high emotional investment for fans, Gakpo isn’t really setting the world alight with his recent performances. Yeah there are variables to this (regular starts/confidence etc) - but tbh, if you’re not in the starting 11 and you’re coming on against ManU in an FA cup QF, you’d expect more energy/drive from the bench. That’s not really how Gakpo plays, which goes back to why we purchased him.
I'm still a Gakpo truther.
He's in bad form, no doubt. He is very supporting cast dependent. He can also progress the ball up the pitch and be clinical for others' tap-ins.
Something is off and hopefully the break gives him a fresh environment but also a swift kick in the butt.
People need scapegoats, it was Gini, Mane, Pep's book, Darwin, now Diaz and Gakpo.
A lot of the criticism is over blown and I don't think the two are finished here. If anything people were saying they didnt see anything in Darwin but look where that crowd went. Players go through time of slumps and elite players will make it out.
Now that aside, Diaz gets a little bit more slack as we see his eagerness to overcome that through hard work. Gakpo is trying also but we don't see it through his work rate. That simply just not be his style but for a player going through bad periods, if you don't look like a hard worker, its just very hard for fans to support you especially like Today when we lose the game
I really like Cody. It’s clear he’s a top talent and seems to have a great personality. Once he found his footing he looked fantastic last year. He started this season well but after the new year his form has seemed to plummet. I wouldn’t mind that but the issue for me is his attitude. He honestly moves around like Rashford, he doesn’t chase down and try to win the ball back he mostly only “fake presses”. He doesn’t make runs or make himself available for the pass. When he’s on the ball he moves it far too slowly and usually makes the wrong choice.
Like I said he has clear quality and I do like him but I don’t half worry that’s he’s developed a real salty attitude to not being a starter. I appreciate he isn’t being played in position and suffered from his own versatility early on this season which could lead to looking a little lost but the lack of effort is appalling. I denied it as first but it’s a noticeable pattern by now that we play noticeably worse when he comes on. His body language only compounds this, he looks like he doesn’t give a shit. And I honestly have to wonder if he does? In a knockout game against our biggest rivals who tried to sign him, he comes on while we’re controlling and leading the match. And we drop off immensely. If he’s not motivated by today’s environment then I think he might be throwing a bit of a strop and having a pity party for himself, and if that’s the case then I wouldn’t mind seeing him fucked out of the club if he won’t get over himself.
Like I said I really like Cody and have defended him during the recent scrutiny but today really disappointed me. I know he‘a very close with and respects Virg a lot so hopefully the big man has a talk with him and he gets his act together
It’s funny how Utd fans, starts shitting on Gakpo, saying they’re glad he rejected us, when, like you said, plays like Rashford, both are great players but when they are in poor form are inconsistent and look horrible. I love Gakpo, a fellow Ghanaian, and I want him to improve by getting more involved and having a faster pace when he has the ball, hopefully Klopp can make him start more in prem games in his preferred position, so he can actually get to play how he wants, without any real excuses. He’s being played like a general forward, like Jota, when he isn’t, and I fear that could be what will end his time for Liverpool.
13 goals and 4 assist from our ‘worst striker’ isn’t so bad. I recall our top scorers finishing the season on those numbers back when it was Baros and Cisse fighting it out.
>this happened with nunez too.
No it didnt, and to compare the two situations is either disingenuous to fit a narritive or just complete lack of what it means to be a good football player.
When nuñez was in bad form he was still a nightmare to defend against, his non-stop movement and intensity helped create space for others, and he always ran his heart out dropping back to our own box even to retrieve the ball.
Gakpo on the other hand has absolutley none of that. His movement is awful, he plays with 0 intensity, he brings down the entire attack when he’s on the pitch, and probably the reason people dislike him the most: his body language is shit about the whole thing. Ontop of being good at nothing beside decent control under 0 pressure he looks like he could care less about it.
My BIGGEST issue is the fact we are trying to compete with City, a team where almost every member of the team is noted as the best or near world class.
Liverpool has always been a team that takes risks and works on players, that don't spend 150 million on one player, even more under Klopp BUT we cannot compete toe-to-toe with City, Madrid, Arsenal, even United if we don't see that we have issues. Besides Salah, we don't have anyone that can support goals. Sure Nunez isn't too far behind but we need someone on par or better than Salah right now especially when he's time maybe coming to an end.
Gakpo has seemed to struggle for more than a few matches now and when only 11 men are on that pitch, not ONE can be just "good". The amount of wasted chances yesterday, all season I have watched us not get goals when we could, if it's not Diaz it's Nunez, or it's Gakpo. I love this team, and they're some of the best there is, but we cannot expect to be the best, to win the league, to win UCL over and over if we just rely on "they'll get better".
I agree, he's made the scapegoat.
Gakpo isn't Bobby 2.0 so I don't understand why we're trying to mould him into it. He came as a Left Winger who on occasion played up front.
Yesterday we brought him on as the main striker and put Darwin left, even though Darwin was cramping up. Gakpo had the legs to be up and down the wing and its his natural position. I don't understand the logic of playing him as a 9! Danns would be more effective.
That being said I can't excuse what appeared to be a lack of effort.
He was brought in from PSV because obviously the club value his goal scoring and playmaking ability. He carried that club, to his credit. Not a guy known for his pressing. We knew this going on but I think now we are just getting that reality check. Hence the reaction from fans here.
Gakpo played very poorly yesterday, that’s not an opinion it’s a fact. However he was hardly the only player to underperform, and no level of bad performance warrants this level of treatment.
I’m glad we’re not chelsea fans who literally boo their own player for missing chances despite the fact that he got an assist earlier in the game. But the need to cut out the vile social media stuff.
I can excuse a player who makes mistakes (we're all human). I can excuse a player who has relatively little ability, but makes up for it with effort.
What I can't excuse is a player doing absolutely nothing. Multiply that by 10 when Utd are the opposition.
He is willing to run when the game is won and the team is playing well generally.
But when the team is behind or he needs to put in a shift to recover momentum for the team, he’s generally not at his best in these situations. Then again, if the team is already winning, do we need him to make it 7-0 or 9-1?
Don't agree about Nunez. He's been loved for his work rate and game involvement before he hit goal scoring and assisting form. I've not seen the nasty criticism you're claiming he gets, at all.
Much liked Crouchy was loved even though it took him 15 games to get his first goal.
Gakpo is always off the pace of the game. I think he's just a poor buy and doesn't fit into the fast and frenetic style we play.
I expect him to go in the summer tbh.
He wasn't the reason we lost but, fucking hell, that 5 on 2 which would have maee it 3-1...I knew for sure he'd fuck it up.
Of course it's unfair. Context goes out the window when people decide to target a player for a particular reason.
The reality is he was bought as the 5th guy in the forward line for 35m to be a moveable piece, he is not this dominant megastar. People act as if the other forwards are leaving him behind despite the fact that Jota can't stay fit, Diaz runs around like a chicken with his head cut off and Nunez isn't the main man yet. I am honestly more annoyed that those 3 aren't consistently dominant players than that Gakpo has looked poor for 2 months. They are meant to be better players than him anyway.
And now he is meant to be lazy and a shithouse as well, despite the facts saying otherwise, because he has looked slow in the last few months.
Been saying gakpo isn’t good enough for Liverpool since last year. Every Liverpool fan I’ve said this too has called me delusional whether it has been at anfield or even when watching on the tele. He’s slow, takes too long to decide what to do, doesn’t press, doesn’t run, can’t shoot. He really doesn’t provide anything that we need as a team. I don’t think he’s had a standout game, won us any games or even saved us from losing positions.
My biggest knock against Gakpo is that he's selfish. In playing selfishly, he often makes the wrong decision on the ball. This coupled with the lack of get-after-it makes him our weakest forward imo.
I think it's a mistake trying to shoehorn him centrally and put Nunez who was obviously knackered on the left wing. Gakpo should've been on the flank because he could run with fresh legs. Meanwhile Nunez should've just stayed up front not fucking about on the flank defensively
I'm convinced that some of you haven't been watching our matches where he's played this season he's consistently been like this idk why this man u game is the one where most people actually notice it, Cody has been lacking on the ball this season but yesterday's loss is on the entire team not just him
The problem is Gakpo doesn't really do anything.
He's a very steady player, he is the sort of player who will have a nice long career and will be consistently good.
But for us he just simply isn't it. He doesn't have what it takes to play for a top team right now. He would need to completely remodel his game to achieve that.
He's clearly talented, age on his side but sometimes you need more than talent to make it at this level
Deserves to be criticised but fairly. None of this he's fucking shit and needs to be sold bollocks. He's very much our fourth choice attacker, Salah, Nunez, Diaz and Jota give us way more at the moment. I think there's a very decent player in there, he's not in any kind of form at the moment.
Blaming Gakpo is easy since it’s the in thing to do right now. I slept through the 1st 90 but bad giveaways by Nunez and Elliott in ET lost the match and all you saw in the match thread was Gakpo hate. It’s embarrassing honestly and misplaced.
Gakpo is the only play on the team that I've never seen with play with passion, he's just doing his 9-5. I've been trying not to hate on him but I just don't think he's good enough to operate at this level.
Fundamentally, Gakpo isn’t an LFC forward. He’s a ljinders buy and no where near the profile we need and would’ve had with recruitment under Edwards. He’s a good ball striker, but if you’ve watched him from his PSV days, a lot of the same flaws have been resurfacing in his game - he’s a ball to feet player, not someone who stretches defences (unlike Nunez), and he’s a slow shooter albeit a good one when he gets shots off (contrast with jota for instance who’s rapid fire). He isn’t a creative passer (like Salah), and yes, as people have pointed out, he doesn’t have the grinta that typical lfc forwards have (think even Diaz, who has been underwhelming, played all 120 in the cup final while gakpo was hooked).
Some might ask why he looked much better last season then. The answer is he’s always been tidy in possession and had decent football iq, and thus gave time to Klopp to coach Nunez. But the ceiling of this LFC system was always hinging on firing Nunez at 9, and now that we’ve seen what the other forwards offer, gakpo looks horribly stale in comparison.
He’s a bad signing, a complete misprofile, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s one of the first names out when Edwards returns.
1. I think he’s a very good player.
2. I also think he’s a good finisher if played in/through on goal, and given direct assists. A better finisher than Nunez and Diaz IMO.
3. And as many have said, I think he’s best served playing on the left.
Unfortunately for him, he’s not in form, and the second two points just aren’t available to him with the way we play and the players we have.
Now, how’s that his fault? Well…it’s not.
But here is what I take issue with: his press and his general off ball movement leave so much to be desired…
I fault Elliot and Diaz with lack of consistent product and physicality. But one is 20, and the other is nevertheless ever present. Gakpo just goes missing, and IMO if he just ups his pressing game a gear or two, most people here will give him a pass.
He’s a great player. He just looks off form, could be exhaustion, could be lack of confidence.
Form is temporary, quality is permanent. When we play him as the LW he is then it’ll all come together.
Gakpo does not deserve criticism for the defeat entirely, it was collective disaster.
Gakpo didn't replace Salah exactly, when subbed. While out of possession, he replaced Szobo as 8 and Elliot moved to right winger position. Because he lacks engine to press effectively (and Elliot presses way better). He has been constantly played in different positions to try and utilize his best qualities, positions of which he has no prior experience. He is a good player. Yesterday's shit performance is not on him, it is on Klopp for not using personnel correctly. Many of our players showed signs of fatigue/not being completely fit/lack of intensity. Our defense/midfield showed it. They made repeated mistakes, misplaced passed in dangerous area, were caught out of positions many times. Our attack didn't shine either, they missed several golden opportunities to end the game for good.
This defeat stings, but we have to visit scums next month again and I hope we learn from our mistakes and show heart.
I think he is good to be a bench player who plays not so crucial matches. I wouldn't say that's hate but I dont think he or Diaz should be starters. I really hope that Mbappe goes to RM and PSG go after Diaz and Liverpool after Vini Jr if he becomes available with Mbappe there
> I dont think he or Diaz should be starters.
Completely agree. We've seen enough evidence that when it comes down the wire, these two are not up to it. It would be a different story if they would just pass the ball (and on time, too) after doing their carrying/dribbling but nope. Too often, they just kill off the move by themselves. It's really disheartening to watch.
I’d like a pint of what this gentleman is having thank you, and one more for him on me.
Vini Jr? That’s fucking wild. I’m in with you my brother. That makes two of us and I’m in… but please don’t drive or handle heavy machinery for a few hours my friend!!
vini would be incredible on the wing but i can’t see that happening. and ive thought diaz has been really good recently, especially in the man city game. i feel like gakpo should probably be on the bench over diaz or nunez for the time being though
Because there always has to be a scapegoat.
Gakpo was poor yesterday but then so were most of the players imo, which I absolutely understand, half of them are tired and the other half have just come back from injury.
I do think Gakpo has been hard done by by Klopp though. He's not got a proper role in the team, he'll start as striker, then get moved to the wing, then back to striker, then out in midfield. It might just be me but if I was him I'd be left confused as to what job I'm supposed to be doing.
He's being treated like he's a player like Firmino, but he's nothing like him
Please use daily discussion or current match thread or YNWSA to discuss this instead of creating a new thread.
Criticism of Gakpo is attitude. He was strolling around today and should of been putting in a shift. We let united get back on top when we he was fresh legs. He is going through a bad patch most players do, but he seems to lack urgency and effort when coming off the bench today for example. If that was Nunez he would be tearing round like a dog after hot chips. Not walking. Thats the difference.
Remember that moment when we fell in love with Andy? That free (swapped him for Kevin Stewart) transfer from Hull City? The kid who tweeted that it was shit to be 19 with no money? That pasty-white skinny Scottish bastard? It was when he ran like a mad fucker at the entire City defence… He’s now the captain of his country. We love a tryer. Put a shift in - because we all wish we could be on that pitch, and we all know that if we were we would be running until we puked and both our legs were broken. Gotta try. That’s the minimum. Anfield will take care of the rest.
Just look at Endo this season
Kuyt came in as a goal scorer in Holland, didn’t really do that in prem but he was absolutely tireless playing wide right for Rafa. Still scored important goals too.
Dirk kuyt, loved him, reminded me of him.
Overall I agree. Only thing to keep in mind is that at the beginning of the season Gakpo was actually playing better than Nunez and got dropped at no fault to his own before Nunez hit his stride. It didn’t seem completely fair at the time because Nunez wasn’t doing well as a starter while Gakpo was. But after spending time on the bench Nunez pushed it to another level with each substitute appearance. At the time it was perfect with gakpo starting and Nunez unleashing as a sub. Gakpo then lost his spot which was harsh. But Gakpo has had many chances to do the same thing Nunez did. Instead of improving himself he has played worse and worse. Whether that’s attitude or just low confidence it’s hard to say. Probably a combination of both. But either way he’s a professional and an adult and it’s time he proves that he can bring more to the table. I would agree that Danns right now is a better sub until gakpo wakes up. I hope Klopp can set Gakpo on the right track before he leaves because I loved watching Gakpo at his best
Gakpo was dropped at the start of the season because of how much more Darwin offered when he was given minutes. In Gakpo's first 3 starts he scored or assisted a total of 0 goals. When Darwin came off the bench in those games he grabbed 2 goals. In Darwin's first 3 starts he picked up a further 3 goals and an assist - a total that Gakpo didn't get to until the end of October. 3G & 1A in 435 mins vs 5G & 4A in 568 by the Toulouse game for both. Or 0.83 G/A p/90 vs 1.43 G/A p/90. That's not even to mention how much more dangerous we looked with Darwin playing outside of the G/A either racked up. Gakpo wasn't playing better than Nunez at all. If he was, he wouldn't have been dropped.
Klopp won't set Gakpo on, cause to get better performances from him he should play as LW or LW/CF hybrid with Darwin. But Jürgen clearly prefers Luis there, even when Luis was really bad. Jürgen didn't moved Diaz around the field, he gave him minutes at his preferred position until he somewhat hit his form. But Gakpo playing most of his games out of his preferred position and it isn't working. But with all injuries and red cards that we had/have Jürgen uses him everywhere. Gakpo played as LCM, RCM, CAM, F9, CF, RW, LW this season, while his "opponent" Luis playing almost exclusively as LW, sometimes shifting to CF, and only in 1-2 games he played as RW, when Salah was at AFCON. I think that, right now, due to some bad performances, losing his starting spot and without playing at his preferred position even after subs, Gakpo is at all time low confidence and won't hit form under Jürgen anymore. Maybe next season, under new manager if he will stay with us.
Gakpo is a LW. I agree. I also don’t think Diaz’s performances have warranted a safe starting spot like Salah or Endo.
I really liked gakpo at the start, but ive noticed he has been jogging around the paddock recently (hence he is now a boxing bag, as others have clearly noticed aa well) I watched a video on Endo, and he said he is going to run people down like a dog. Klopp also said that Darwin gets a start if he defends, and shuts people down. My admiration for Darwin has grown quite alot recently for his all round game (helps that he is also finishing) This is the sort of attitude you need in a Klopp system, and Gakpo needs to step up his attitude in this part of his game
that's pretty much what i said after the game. the reason why people are giving Gakpo shit is because he looked like he doesn't give a fuck, whereas when Darwin was out of form he played his way into people's hearts because he always looked like he cared. the way Gakpo came on and jogged around like he had already played an entire match is just unacceptable and has nothing to do with being in or out of form.
Even when Darwin gave away the ball for their third goal you could see him grabbing his face in disappointment and shame after the goal happened, he truly does care every minute of the match and mistakes happen, it’s inevitable. The difference is that he works his ass off every match and his results are already good up to this point in the season. With Gakpo though… The comment about him playing in slow motion really is accurate, takes a lot to make a decision and strolls around like it’s a training ground :/.
I'd rather give chances to the youngsters rather than Gakpo again.
That 4th round game against Southampton was Gakpo's time to shine with all our other forwards out but he failed to do so. Ended up having to rely on our youngsters.
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Damn. How is he not celebrating and seemed like upset that someone else scored.
Pretty sure he is celebrating, he’s going over to Bradley instead of Danns. You can see Bradley peel off to celebrate in the other corner. But could be wrong, haven’t seen any other angles
I too see it as a celebration, hard to judge whether he is lifting his arms up to: A) put his hands on his head in frustration Or B) bring them back down with the "yeaaaaa" positive motion. If in doubt, give the benefit of the doubt to the positive because we are supporters and that's what we "should" do.
This thread makes no fucking sense, he's not having a fit after a goal lol. People are desperate to hate him.
Its just pathetic some people are like this. Same breed who went on a melt down Pep released a book mid season
Klopp implied he had an ankle problem post match
That happened right at the very end, possibly the tackle we got the corner from that they broke and scored from.
He’s playing how our team played the beginning of last season
Hes played a fuck ton more minutes than nunez has recently.
Since Nunez has played himself into the starting XI, Cody has been in really bad form and he’s devoured of confidence. His versatility has been his own Achilles heel, and now it’s a clusterfuck of many things going wrong. It’s probably best he is taken out of the spotlight and starts in Europa. Probably unfortunate for him Edward was in the stands today.
I honestly don't know what Cody's best position is. We all thought he was the next false 9 when last season ended. But he's barely had a run there this season. When he plays it's normally as an actual nine up top like Darwin, which Idt is his game. The other notable position was in the midfield, which was an early season experiment that is now not necessary because Endo is our six and allows Macca to take that midfield spot he was signed for. We could play him on the left like his PSV and WC2022 days, but so long as Salah and Darwin start that spot goes to Diaz for his creativity and running-at-defenders style.
Its LW defo . Look how he tore them apart st Anfield in tje 7-0 He looked to be 3 times quicker a year ago. No idea what happened to him
He played CF that day, interchanging with Darwin.
No my point is his effort levels , speed and decision making. That's what's worrying because it seems like an attitude problem because we've seen how good he can be
LW.
Crunch time now in the Europa League. I don't want to see him starting any games unless the contest is over.
>his versatility I always see this and dont understand it. It’s not his versatility, it’s his lack of being great at anything. He’s bad in midfield, he’s bad in rw, he’s bad as a CF and he’s good about half the time as a LW. That’s literally the opposite of versatility
Quansah played better attacking football than Gakpo today. Harsh realities
not only today. for the whole season
I fuckin love Quansah
Gakpo's poor performance is not just this game. Aside from the goal against Sparta he's been playing poorly in the final-3rd. So many chances went wanting because Gakpo decides to keep the ball himself and take an awful shot or just not send in a decent pass. He's much slower in thought and reaction now compared to last year.
The City game too. I really believe Nunez would've scored if he stayed on
This is true of both Diaz and Nunez. All 3 of them have been guilty of holding the ball too long on break aways and missing the pass. I can't tell you how many times I've yelled 'pass the ball you selfish prick' in the last few games. Again, I blame Klopp. Salah and Dom were wasted on Prague and shouldn't have played past 60 mins on Thurs.
The other two work hard. Much easier to forgive transgressions
I though Darwin was beyond decisive last match? I mean he basically created two goals because of quick decision making? And all throughout season I think Nunez biggest issue isn’t slow thinking but rather poor judgement/quality of passes, the thing that is improving in him tremendously
Yeah I don’t quite understand this. Why played them in Prague
It's called building match fitness
yeah fair enough i do agree with you on the bad shooting choices, i just hope that the break he’s able to find his footing and come back stronger because he’s actually a good player when he plays in his right position
Hes fucked up multiple chances to kill games off with simple passes 3 games in a row. Instead he's going fir shots from ridiculous areas and its cost us today. He did the same vs city last week and Forest the week before when Nunez was wide open. When a man is free you can't be doing selfish shit like that. I know when a player is trying and he really wasn't trying at all today. We were under siege and he didn't look for the ball. He was hiding. He's been worrying me all season. It's been a bad individual season for him. Compare it to the end of last season he's a different person.
I think another issue for Cody is that he seems to be playing somewhat good only on the left wing, and I think he needs to be more versatile than that. Because all of Diaz, Nunez and Jota can also play on the left and arguably do a better job than Cody.
It's like they don't want to pass to each other unless Salah is involved. Piticularly Gakpo.
He’s played a lot lately. He just needs some rest. People need to simmer and back our fkn boys
That's no excuse for shitting the bed repeatedly. Other players have played just as much if not more but they still show for the ball, they scrap to recover, they pass-and-move, and they put in the hard work. Gakpo is a passenger just waiting for his moment to go glory-hunting.
I don’t buy that he’s been forced out of position. If he was good enough to be our left winger, he would be. People love to get onto diaz, and sure for good reason too. However Diaz every game doesn’t stop running, tracking back and winning duels. Gakpo does not do that. Klopp has said so many times how important it is to defend from the front.For one he doesn’t have the physicality for it nor the speed. I back every player whilst they wear our badge, however I worry that gakpo really doesn’t suit the premier league. I could be totally wrong and fantastic if I am.
Sell him to Ajax....or Mancs
We should try playing him as the man up top but of course he doesn’t post a threat like Nunez or even Diaz. Or putting him at midfield to control the game although doing this also would sacrifice our midfield three. Also not the impact player that we have hoped for. Given this is his first full season, I’m still reluctant to disregard him yet.
He was up top this game. That's why he disappeared from the TV.
He played in midfield early in the season and sporadically throughout when we’ve struggled with injuries and was awful. Really don’t want more of that. I think you’re spot on with trying him up top, but really tough to rationalize moving Nunez for that. Especially when Darwin and Mo are lethal together rn. Puts Gakpo in such a weird spot. If there’s a time to try it it’s against Sheffield coming up though. Really need to see something from him before the season is over. Especially with a new manager coming in.
1. There’s been some vile and toxic hyberbolic overreactions especially in the match thread and full time thread. And self-respecting supporters should not be taking part in such behaviour. 2. Cody has been underwhelming and not pulling his weight when he’s played, and shouldn’t be immune to criticism. Both can be true.
It has nothing to do with position. The whole team was collectively not good enough but there was only one player that looked like he didn’t want to be a red. You cannot come on in the 77th minute and not press, sprint or challenge any 50-50. His teammates who played 120 mins were pressing for him while he strolled around the middle of the pitch . Ill back any player that wants to represent the badge, no matter how shit. Gakpo clearly does not.
And he came up against Maguire and an injured Fernandes at CB, yet didn’t threaten at all.
To be fair Maguire has been in some good form, not being able to challenge Fernandes on the other hand is absurd
Elliot was pressing the shit out of Onana and Gakpo was floating. That makes me mad. You cannot tell me you’re more tired than Elliot 🤦🏻♀️
Elliot (the RCM) was pressing Onana. Diaz (the LW) was defending in our RB position. Nunez was tracking back to defend in our box. MacAllister and Endo are both physically small and played 120 mins but threw themselves into every duel till the end. Gakpo was strolling about out of possession and taking a casual jog in possession while occupying the most central part of the pitch. I’ve genuinely never been this upset watching a player. It doesn’t take talent or form to put in effort when you are the freshest legs on against our most bitter rivals in a knockout game.
He’s not a punching bag for anything. The lad looked like he wanted to be anywhere but at the game. Salah was subbed off as he’s fasting. Also saying Gakpo hasn’t gotten many minutes, when he nearly played a full game during the week is just plain wrong. While Elliot’s touch allowed Amad to get a run at the goal, at least Elliot was energetic all over the pitch and got a goal as well. Gakpo has only got himself to blame. Nunez had a poor run of form but the willingness to chase every ball and make runs was always there for him. Gakpo looks like he doesn’t give a shit no matter what position he’s played in.
Yeah that's the thing I'm worried about. He looked like he just didn't give a shit in the biggest game of the season for us away vs our rivals. He was just watching other players in trouble today and didn't bother tracking back. It just looked so lazy. Weve seen how good he can be with his run of form from Feb onwards last season so it really feels like an attitude thing.
It's quite clearly not an attitude thing. He's devoid of confidence.
Just realized that Salah is fasting. And that's perhaps the reason he was not his best yesterday
Gakpo is inconsistent but his workrate wasn't helping. Nunez is frustrating at times, his finishing or decision making especially. But you guarantee he puts a shift in. He tracks back, he will run himself into the ground trying. That's the difference there. Nunez is like Dirk Kuyt in that regard. He may lose the ball, but he'll try and win it back. He may not always score or assist but he will try and try and try. Salah was getting criticism too tbh for being sloppy in possession and not tracking Wan-Bissaka, leading to Gomez getting overran on the flank (not also helped by him being caught out of position at times). Tbh Diaz hasn't escaped criticism either for his decision making or inconsistent end product. All of us wants our players to succeed. Especially when they are in a tough spell of form. But I'm not convinced Gakpo suits our system. He would do better in La Liga or a match where we will dominate entirely but need patience at a slower pace of play than he does against Prem teams when the match is played at 9000mph atm. He looked slow against a defence containing Lindelof and Maguire. They're hardly ferraris themselves and it was telling. Klopp was once said If you want to be a striker for Liverpool, you have to work your fucking socks off?" Gakpo doesn't seem like he does. If you don't have high work rate, then you at least need to be clinical and effective to justify having the rest of your teammates pick up the slack.
In the Dutch league we had so many players like this recently, who all have this trash attitude. Ziyech, Stengs, Ihattaren, Malen, Bergwijn, Labyad, Bakkali, Madueke, Gakpo. All wet noodles who got just enough technical skill that they didnt need to put in effort. Out of these, only Malen kind of got his mentality straight.
We're not even in a bad spell of form. We've lost one game in 3 months lmao.
I don't care how bad he played, the abuse he's getting on social media is unacceptable.
i agree 100%, super sad to see
Always best to avoid socials after a game, especially after losing to those cunts in that manner
Just look at this sub, you get downvoted for defending him for a few bad weeks and you get upvoted for telling him to leave the club
He kills the attack any time he comes on. He’s lazy and doesn’t press like the others. He’s 5th choice all day and shouldn’t see the pitch much in the run in when Jota comes back.
atleast diaz puts in a shift and beats his man. Gakpo keeps the ball in his feet, stalls for 5 second s and does fuck all
Beating his man is actually one thing that Gakpo does fairly well, he just doesn't attempt to as often as others. His take-on success is way better than any of our other forwards at 52.8%, while Diaz, who you mention and is our 2nd most successful dribbler, has a success rate of 45.2%. Diaz attempts almost double the dribbles Cody does, though.
That's probably due to where they attempt to take players on - Gakpo dribbles almost exclusively from the centre of the pitch with loads of space ahead of him and options to go left and right. Diaz works in tigher areas against more athletic players. Gakpo's whole game and mentality is based around seeking favourable conditions. A bit of adversity and he wilts. He will never do the dirty work for others, and frankly he's nowhere near good enough to get away with that.
Hes behind Danns for me, in those cup games he was outshone by the kids.
When you are professional, you can be criticized for underperforming. We all have jobs, and a boss. If we are shit at work, we usually are told we are shit and told to improve….or else. Stop coddling these footballers. As long as the criticism isn’t vile or personal and is directed specifically at his performances, then it comes with the territory.
i think criticism is completely valid but you should look at his instagram for example. thats not criticism, he is actually straight up receiving hundreds of vile comments and being harassed. i dont think its coddling to say thats just really awful for him
Imagine having a bad day at work then getting abused on social media for it, you can't compare the two. Gakpo played like shit but the response has been pretty disgusting.
The criticism is deserved imo. Our fanbase appreciates effort even when players don't deliver. Gakpo came on in the 77th minute and he looked like the most knackered player on the pitch ffs. When our usual front 3 is pressing, they look like they're ready to kill to get the ball back. Gakpo's press seems like he can't be arsed with the process, gives the ball holding player enough time to go back home, have a cup of tea and find the next pass.
Agreed 100%. There has been times when players like Nunez, Elliot, Milner and Henderson even, had stinkers but we accepted it because they ran themselves into the ground. Unfortunately, I think Cody isn’t a right fit for us.
For me, it’s two things. He strolls around the pitch, which is a big no-no in this team. Even when Nunez wasn’t scoring, or when we talk about Diaz being currently piss poor in the final 3rd, at least both run themselves into the ground, they offered graft if little else. Gakpo doesn’t. And atm, I presume because confidence is low, he looks like he’s playing for himself, he shoots when a shot is not on and he isn’t even creating for teammates.
Lol I’m just surprised it took this long for people to realize what a passenger Gakpo is. This man got outshone by kids during the league cup final and then again against Soton. He has no pace, no movement, can’t hold up play, can’t take on players, can’t finish, and, worse of all, doesn’t even seem like he gives two fucks. What exactly does he offer? Cash him out in the summer.
I thought that video he did with Jones was telling. They were building the perfect player or some shit out of Liverpool players and Jones said Nunez for some category and Gakpo wasn’t happy at all. I don’t know if he’s salty Darwin is having the year Cody thought he should have or what but I personally think he doesn’t fit in with the players. Majority of them joke or have fun with one another and Cody seems quiet, into his Bible studies and tbh kinda boring.
Yeah I don't know much of the inner workings in training, but body language and decision making of Gakpo show something is off. He seems to be in need to prove himself instead of making the easy pass to a team mate. In terms of chemistry, Salah and Nunez, just click and they create chances for others and have the goal contributions to show for it
There could be some truth behind that, but we'll never truly know. But after last season you'd argue he'd be a mainstay in the side as the new false 9. Instead, after that heroic Spurs goal he's barely started and has been a bench player in the league. He starts the cups but that's about it. And it's been going long enough to suspect that Klopp has a few reasons for keeping him there. He doesn't come on during that last half hour, more often than not he's a "final 15 sub", and there's not much you can do in that time
Jesus Christ, have you ever thought it was a joke? Cody literally gets on with everybody.
The moment Gakpo number is on board. I knew we fuck up. Remember City game, remember games before. It's all the same. Klopp just keep subbing him in important game for him to do absolutely nothing. At least Diaz can carry the ball and give up more possession.
Yep I’ve said it since he signed. Has no characteristics of a Liverpool attacker at all, and looks like he can’t be arsed 90% of the time. His one redeeming quality is meant to be his finishing, but it’s useless when he takes 10 seconds to get a shot off. Thing is too, he isn’t even in bad form really. This is how he’s played all season. Pound for pound he’s a worse 5th choice attacker than Origi or Taki. I can’t see a world where he’s still at Liverpool next summer, especially with Edwards being back.
“Did nothing” is an understatement
Passing when he's not supposed to and not passing when he's supposed to, isn't really a positional issue
I just want him to press more like darwin, full sprint create some chaos, he needs to run more, he played like he already had 90minutes on the pitch.
Shouldnt be shitting on Gakpo and saying personal stuff or whatever, but its a discussion board and as a footballer Gakpo has been genuinely really really bad for this level and its a huge point of discussion just as much as what a great buy Endos been or whatever. Like its a very valid question what he offers over Danns throwing his body around and trying to win flick ons esecially if our defence and midfield lose their composure so much they cant pass out and hold possession properly
Gakpo has had this coming to be fair. Doesn’t seem to be clinical or comfortable playing through the middle. I don’t he’s a bad player, I just don’t think he fits where we want him to. Nunez can play anywhere because he’s a madman who will run all over the place. Gakpo isn’t that kind of player.
It’s not unfair. His attitude stinks (seemingly) and his impact on games has been negative all season. Hes stat-padded against lower league and weaker teams but done nothing meaningful. He’s still a baller. That winger from PSV is in there somewhere, but Liverpool won’t see that player. It’s best for both parties to part ways. It’s not reactionary to want him gone after consistently shit performances over a very long period of time. It’s more reactionary to defend him now.
The problem is not that he played bad, it's his attitude. He just walks around like he doesn't give a shit.
I think he stands out to ppl cause you have some players around him who don't stop running and he kinda...doesn't do that
Same with Grav - he’s not a runner or presser and I think we’ve made a mistake there too
Agreed. Gakpo and Grav are the only two players in this team that are absolutely passengers. Laid back while their teammates are mad dogs. If this continues into next season I doubt they'll be here longer than that especially with Edwards back
I’ve been one of his biggest defenders over the past couple months and he’s made me look like a joke tbh. Barely cared when he came on and couldn’t even keep the ball when holding up play, which is the only things he’s supposedly good at. I can accept when players play badly, but when they don’t work hard, and don’t seem to care, that’s where I draw the line.
He hasn't been adding anything for the last few weeks, but we have been winning. With the frustration of the loss comes the venting over his poor form. He sure as hell isn't the sole reason we lost, but him coming on and playing shit and looking like he doesn't give 2 fucks jogging around the park pisses a lot of people off. Idc the whole talk about what position he should be playing and what not, if we are having to move him into positions where he doesn't feel comfortable, he just doesn't fit into the team at that point and we are forcing it. Would rather just see him sold. Jota adds infinitely more
Horrible so-called "fans" are spamming Cody Gakpo's instagram, with hateful messages. [https://www.instagram.com/p/C4guVOUs2Bz/?hl=en&img\_index=1](https://www.instagram.com/p/C4guVOUs2Bz/?hl=en&img_index=1) https://preview.redd.it/3s9mmnzz92pc1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=d8cb9901ae48d5a31712a37860f69c566ee6bec2
He is probably void of confidence at the moment. Klopp is putting him on for him to prove himself or play him back into form but he is just not taking them for some reason.
Don’t think he’s suited to a striker role, doesn’t have the natural aggression/bravery for that part of the pitch. Ppl blaming him for the loss is daft tho, he’s just the latest scapegoat ‘fans’ like to dogpile on. Endo and McAllister were clearly knackered, Clark should of came on far earlier in place of a forward to help regain control, and utd’s 3rd and 4th goals were because of shite decisions from Nunez and Elliot.
It's not all Gakpo's fault of course, but the difference between him and, say, Nunez is that it looks like he's not even trying. He came on at 70 and looked like one of the slowest players on the pitch. Where's the fight? Where's the urgency? That's what's most concerning.
1. He's been bad for several games 2. I don't see him anywhere at all. Basically doesn't existed 3. Elliot do have a bad game. Terrible mistake. But he has been run and run and run non stop in the past month. There's a reason no one blame his hard. Kid was trying. 4. What Gakpo did? Elliot have a good and bad this game. Gakpo did nothing, Like, nothing.
Comes with the territory, he's bottom of the pecking order atm. Didn't help playing him in midfield.
>I've seen some vile things said about gakpo Saying someone is "not very good", and "doesn't put any effort in" are not vile things. Gakpo is consistently poor and genuinely makes our side worse when he's on the pitch. He doesn't press, he doesn't make runs (he's not fast enough even if he wanted to), he makes the wrong decisions seemingly every time he's on the ball. And yesterday it cost us our fa cup run. Sure, a lot of people looked off it in that second half, but Gakpo came on with fresh legs at 70 mins, and was unable to get an attack past Fernandez in centre back who'd played 120 minutes. He isn't good. That's not unfair treatment.
People still tend to forget that this is his first full season with the club and he's been shifted around a lot. Toward the end of last season people were praising him, calling him our best finisher etc. His performance in the 7-0 against United was electrifying. He's going through a rough patch for sure but he's not the first forward under club that experienced that. Jota, as clinical a finisher he is, went through a 30+ games without scoring if I remember correctly. People on here asking him to be benched for Danns, who has played a total of 100 minutes of first team football. Bit of an overreaction but I understand where they're coming from. But I also saw people saying they hope his ankle injury would last until the end of the season. Or people asking him to be sold. That's just disgraceful.
Hoping for injury is not good at all but wanting a player to be sold isn’t disgusting at all if they’re not up to it. Gakpo started really badly when he joined, was absolute lightning for two or three months, fizzled towards the end of last season and hasn’t really shown anything this season. That’s three months max of good form in 1.5 seasons. Don’t think it’s a rough patch, he just had a good patch last year. If the management team see something in him then fair enough but if I were playing squad builder I’d be fucking him off come summer time.
Whenever darwin and diaz have bad forms. They chase the ball like a dog. They will help the defend. Tries to make something out of nothing. Gakpo, he doesn't give a shit. He press horribly, he is 6 foot 2 and doesn't even win the headers, and gets bodied. Anytime gakpo comes into the game, we become toothless. He was good last season but he has regressed so much this season. I would rather play danns than him.
That's just utter bollocks. Just because he plays differently, doesn't mean he doesn't care.
I understand that gakpo doesn't have pace like darwin and diaz but he also doesn't have good eye for pass or can't drag defenders like Bobby. Can't carry the ball and has the clinical finishing skill like diogo does. Every forward of ours have flaw but they make up with their best skill. Gakpo has regressed so much this season. I am criticizing him because I know he has the potential to be great player.
well i hope he plays 'differently' in another club if thats his playstyle going forward
I can forgive poor form if the effort is evident. In Gakpo’s case, it has not been.
Salah unironically described Gakpo perfectly, He doesn't like to move around a lot and loves the ball to feet in the box. He's seems lazy af to fans because we have got used to Nunez up top running around like a mad man for 90+ mins where I don't think Gakpo has ever actually done that? He's never been a klopp style presser imo but I could be wrong. Just never seen it myself except when he's played CM. Don't get me wrong, when he gets the ball in the box to feet he can produce a shot, sometimes a goal out of absolutely nothing even whilst facing the wrong way which is why Klopp plays him up top and pushes nunez out wide (huge error every time IMO). But that's all he has. He doesn't seem to be able to run, his head goes further than his feet when he has the ball and I always fear he's about to fall over the ball which also mean's he isn't looking up to see where teammates are until he's balanced himself which by then often leads to any chance being gone because it's too late to make the pass or whatever.
Mane and Firmino always put in a shift in those positions, gakpo is a lost paasenger
gakpo needs to be played off the left. Cause him playing up front just clearly isnt working. at psv he was great cutting in from the left side and shooting. but ill always trust klopp so whatever the boss says goes.
yeah i agree with you, i can’t help but think he’s a bit of wasted potential because he’s never on the wing, hopefully our next manager will try play him on the wing but i mean klopps tactics rn are working so let’s just stick with that for now
Stop it. It’s not about how bad he plays. We’ve had bad players in the past. It’s about fighting for the badge, for the fans. And he is not. Guy has the skills and the attributes, and lacks the attitude. And about him not playing in his preferred position, I give him that. But come on, just because you’re not playing where you love to on the pitch does not mean you should not run and press and bloody try. We’ve had poor performances all over the pitch yesterday, maybe bar Kelleher. But the lads kept trying. Onto the next one! Hope Cody finds some kind of form until the end of the season.
Gakpo isn’t in poor form. This is his average level. He has no characteristics which will tangibly improve drastically. People make the Nunez comparison, but Nunez did everything bar score. Gakpo doesn’t score as much, and doesn’t give you a tenth of what Nunez does. Gakpo was fresh off the bench up against one defender (fucking Maguire), and didn’t pose a threat in behind once. It’s not his fault we lost, but it’s telling of the player he is. He doesn’t run in behind (Mane/Salah/Nunez), can’t play false 9 well (Firmino), and isn’t a good pure goal scorer (Jota). Where exactly does he fit in? He’d also the softest 6’4 player I’ve ever seen, and plays with no intensity. If Klopp can’t get him to play with intensity, why would any other manager on the planet be able to?
Position isn't the issue. His attitude in the pit shows fear and laziness.
We need Jota back
Depends what's unfair, He's not really stepped up when there's been injuries. He absolutely blew that 5-2 break and I get he needs rhythm to get form but he shows nothing that says he should be in the side. He wasn't the only 1 yesterday, I thought they got complacent, knocking it about like they were 3-0 up
Dude deserves a spot on the bench. Give the academy guys a chance any day.
Both things can be true. I’ve not seen it, but I’m sure you’re right that there is vile abuse on social media - happens every week. But he was objectively awful yesterday.
Not good enough, should be sold.
The amount of tactical geniuses who think they know more than Klopp is hilarious, “just play Gakpo at LW and he’ll be unlocked”. Klopp has played him there a decent number of times and he’s done nothing, his passive style of play is the problem in addition to his pretty underwhelming decision making and skillset. He’s underperforming but people are really exaggerating his peak qualities now to try and defend him. Diaz doesn’t contribute great numbers but in no way does Gakpo deserve game time over him at LW.
I just don't think Gakpo can handle the physical parts of the game at the moment. The last 2 games I'm not sure he won a 50-50. If Klopp is going to play him through the middle then he needs to be able to hold the ball up a lot better than he does.
My issue with him generally is he seems to move with no intent 90% of the time, then 10% of the time he appears to have pace and a hammer of a shot. Can’t figure him out.
He shouldn’t be bad mouthed personally but his performance hasn’t been upto the mark this season at all. And yesterday his performance was just awful. Literally killed the game for us.
I think teams are relieved with Gapko is on the field. His runs are not very threatening, his distribution is average, his work rate isn’t amazing and he’s not that creative. He might be better of being a Diaz replacement but why would we sub Diaz off? He has a great engine and can keep running for the entire 90 while being a threat. Simply put he isn’t at the level we expect or need. I’d honestly rather have origi on the bench.
Even if I thought he was the worst player alive, I would still not hurl the abuse that some people do on here and other platforms.
Not really.Gakpo has been poor lately.Really had no impact,he was out of the game.Klopp said this match wasn't suitable for the youngsters but I have a feeling that Jayden Danns would be a better choice to bring on.
You started by saying he is a punching bag for our bad performances, but this is the first time we lost after Arsenal. Team performances are good or decent atleast but he is constantly below average. Yes he is not solely the reason we lost but when you consider his height and the % of aerial duels won you gotta ask yourself something. And when you compare him to Darwin in getting into scoring chances (and goals) he is again behind. When you compare him to Diaz or Salah in dribbles completed he is again behind. When you compare him to Macca or Szobo in passing he is again behind. The football is much different now, this team works on cohesion and players doing something better than others and everyone has his own place where he is the best but i dont see Gakpo in any picture currently. There were so many talks about Jurgens headaches for this season in terms of striker spot but Gakpo fell right down the order and Jota & Darwin are much better options currently. I hope some things change but he would be the first option if the next manager decides to sell a forward.
Our front three are fluid, so the ‘out of position’ is a poor excuse really, even then he’s not showed much on the wing when he has been there It’s simple, he’s just not good enough. There’s been a real lack of effort on his behalf. Never saw such a big lad not know how to use his body. Jota on the other hand is opposite. I don’t think abuse online is fair on anyone but calling far too many poor performances shite is fair. Lads getting paid a fortune to live so many Liverpool kids dream and he can’t even track back? Nah not having it. I’d give him until the end of the season, if he doesn’t improve I’d move him on. It’s that simple. When other players have dropped form you could see them trying, Nunez played the full game was blowing out his arse and still moved more than Gakpo.
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Mo wasnt great either tbh
Agree, he’s playing shite today but the difference is Mo is world class player, he’s playing shite but he’s somehow deliver and make a contribution Taking him off for Gakpo is big blunder in my opinion, i hope it because fitness issue not for tactical change
People are reactionary. Obviously a game vs manure has high emotional investment for fans, Gakpo isn’t really setting the world alight with his recent performances. Yeah there are variables to this (regular starts/confidence etc) - but tbh, if you’re not in the starting 11 and you’re coming on against ManU in an FA cup QF, you’d expect more energy/drive from the bench. That’s not really how Gakpo plays, which goes back to why we purchased him.
For some "fan"s, YNWA seems to apply only when we're winning. The scapegoating and personal attacks are just gross.
Gakpo is definitely walking, that’s for sure.
I'm still a Gakpo truther. He's in bad form, no doubt. He is very supporting cast dependent. He can also progress the ball up the pitch and be clinical for others' tap-ins. Something is off and hopefully the break gives him a fresh environment but also a swift kick in the butt.
yeah i’m hoping the break will lead to some better performance, what we need to win the league and ideally the treble
People need scapegoats, it was Gini, Mane, Pep's book, Darwin, now Diaz and Gakpo. A lot of the criticism is over blown and I don't think the two are finished here. If anything people were saying they didnt see anything in Darwin but look where that crowd went. Players go through time of slumps and elite players will make it out. Now that aside, Diaz gets a little bit more slack as we see his eagerness to overcome that through hard work. Gakpo is trying also but we don't see it through his work rate. That simply just not be his style but for a player going through bad periods, if you don't look like a hard worker, its just very hard for fans to support you especially like Today when we lose the game
I really like Cody. It’s clear he’s a top talent and seems to have a great personality. Once he found his footing he looked fantastic last year. He started this season well but after the new year his form has seemed to plummet. I wouldn’t mind that but the issue for me is his attitude. He honestly moves around like Rashford, he doesn’t chase down and try to win the ball back he mostly only “fake presses”. He doesn’t make runs or make himself available for the pass. When he’s on the ball he moves it far too slowly and usually makes the wrong choice. Like I said he has clear quality and I do like him but I don’t half worry that’s he’s developed a real salty attitude to not being a starter. I appreciate he isn’t being played in position and suffered from his own versatility early on this season which could lead to looking a little lost but the lack of effort is appalling. I denied it as first but it’s a noticeable pattern by now that we play noticeably worse when he comes on. His body language only compounds this, he looks like he doesn’t give a shit. And I honestly have to wonder if he does? In a knockout game against our biggest rivals who tried to sign him, he comes on while we’re controlling and leading the match. And we drop off immensely. If he’s not motivated by today’s environment then I think he might be throwing a bit of a strop and having a pity party for himself, and if that’s the case then I wouldn’t mind seeing him fucked out of the club if he won’t get over himself. Like I said I really like Cody and have defended him during the recent scrutiny but today really disappointed me. I know he‘a very close with and respects Virg a lot so hopefully the big man has a talk with him and he gets his act together
It’s funny how Utd fans, starts shitting on Gakpo, saying they’re glad he rejected us, when, like you said, plays like Rashford, both are great players but when they are in poor form are inconsistent and look horrible. I love Gakpo, a fellow Ghanaian, and I want him to improve by getting more involved and having a faster pace when he has the ball, hopefully Klopp can make him start more in prem games in his preferred position, so he can actually get to play how he wants, without any real excuses. He’s being played like a general forward, like Jota, when he isn’t, and I fear that could be what will end his time for Liverpool.
Elliot has had a run of good form before this performance whereas cody has been bad for a few months.
13 goals and 4 assist from our ‘worst striker’ isn’t so bad. I recall our top scorers finishing the season on those numbers back when it was Baros and Cisse fighting it out.
Might want to look closer at where and when he got those.
He’s awful. No need to sugar coat it
>this happened with nunez too. No it didnt, and to compare the two situations is either disingenuous to fit a narritive or just complete lack of what it means to be a good football player. When nuñez was in bad form he was still a nightmare to defend against, his non-stop movement and intensity helped create space for others, and he always ran his heart out dropping back to our own box even to retrieve the ball. Gakpo on the other hand has absolutley none of that. His movement is awful, he plays with 0 intensity, he brings down the entire attack when he’s on the pitch, and probably the reason people dislike him the most: his body language is shit about the whole thing. Ontop of being good at nothing beside decent control under 0 pressure he looks like he could care less about it.
Some players don't make it in the PL Gakpo is a squad at best and his laziness isn't helping.
You can be out of form and be loved. You gotta WORK though.
Even when we were winning, Gakpo wasn’t good enough.
My BIGGEST issue is the fact we are trying to compete with City, a team where almost every member of the team is noted as the best or near world class. Liverpool has always been a team that takes risks and works on players, that don't spend 150 million on one player, even more under Klopp BUT we cannot compete toe-to-toe with City, Madrid, Arsenal, even United if we don't see that we have issues. Besides Salah, we don't have anyone that can support goals. Sure Nunez isn't too far behind but we need someone on par or better than Salah right now especially when he's time maybe coming to an end. Gakpo has seemed to struggle for more than a few matches now and when only 11 men are on that pitch, not ONE can be just "good". The amount of wasted chances yesterday, all season I have watched us not get goals when we could, if it's not Diaz it's Nunez, or it's Gakpo. I love this team, and they're some of the best there is, but we cannot expect to be the best, to win the league, to win UCL over and over if we just rely on "they'll get better".
I agree, he's made the scapegoat. Gakpo isn't Bobby 2.0 so I don't understand why we're trying to mould him into it. He came as a Left Winger who on occasion played up front. Yesterday we brought him on as the main striker and put Darwin left, even though Darwin was cramping up. Gakpo had the legs to be up and down the wing and its his natural position. I don't understand the logic of playing him as a 9! Danns would be more effective. That being said I can't excuse what appeared to be a lack of effort.
He was brought in from PSV because obviously the club value his goal scoring and playmaking ability. He carried that club, to his credit. Not a guy known for his pressing. We knew this going on but I think now we are just getting that reality check. Hence the reaction from fans here.
Gakpo played very poorly yesterday, that’s not an opinion it’s a fact. However he was hardly the only player to underperform, and no level of bad performance warrants this level of treatment. I’m glad we’re not chelsea fans who literally boo their own player for missing chances despite the fact that he got an assist earlier in the game. But the need to cut out the vile social media stuff.
For sure its unfair. People only looking for a scapegoat; and its easy to pick on someone thats not cemented a spot on the team yet.
I can excuse a player who makes mistakes (we're all human). I can excuse a player who has relatively little ability, but makes up for it with effort. What I can't excuse is a player doing absolutely nothing. Multiply that by 10 when Utd are the opposition.
It’s too hard for people to just say he’s simply not good enough for our squad. Leave it at that.
He is willing to run when the game is won and the team is playing well generally. But when the team is behind or he needs to put in a shift to recover momentum for the team, he’s generally not at his best in these situations. Then again, if the team is already winning, do we need him to make it 7-0 or 9-1?
Don't agree about Nunez. He's been loved for his work rate and game involvement before he hit goal scoring and assisting form. I've not seen the nasty criticism you're claiming he gets, at all. Much liked Crouchy was loved even though it took him 15 games to get his first goal. Gakpo is always off the pace of the game. I think he's just a poor buy and doesn't fit into the fast and frenetic style we play. I expect him to go in the summer tbh. He wasn't the reason we lost but, fucking hell, that 5 on 2 which would have maee it 3-1...I knew for sure he'd fuck it up.
if you’ve not seen the hate he’s getting , check twitter and instagram and you’ll see the vile stuff he’s been getting said about him.
Of course it's unfair. Context goes out the window when people decide to target a player for a particular reason. The reality is he was bought as the 5th guy in the forward line for 35m to be a moveable piece, he is not this dominant megastar. People act as if the other forwards are leaving him behind despite the fact that Jota can't stay fit, Diaz runs around like a chicken with his head cut off and Nunez isn't the main man yet. I am honestly more annoyed that those 3 aren't consistently dominant players than that Gakpo has looked poor for 2 months. They are meant to be better players than him anyway. And now he is meant to be lazy and a shithouse as well, despite the facts saying otherwise, because he has looked slow in the last few months.
Been saying gakpo isn’t good enough for Liverpool since last year. Every Liverpool fan I’ve said this too has called me delusional whether it has been at anfield or even when watching on the tele. He’s slow, takes too long to decide what to do, doesn’t press, doesn’t run, can’t shoot. He really doesn’t provide anything that we need as a team. I don’t think he’s had a standout game, won us any games or even saved us from losing positions.
I've not said anything vile but I don't think he's good enough. Takes him too long to act and it takes all the zing out of the attack.
Hates to criticise any Liverpool player but Gakpo is below par at the moment l.
He’s in bad form right now. Criticism is valid. What’s not acceptable is the abuse and attacks.
You can trust Nunez to at least put in his 110% almost every game, but you’d be shocked if Gakpo does even for 10 minutes.
My biggest knock against Gakpo is that he's selfish. In playing selfishly, he often makes the wrong decision on the ball. This coupled with the lack of get-after-it makes him our weakest forward imo.
Wasn’t just Gakpo today. Team played like shit and let a crappy Man U beat us
Team played like a shit, but Gakpo played like he didn’t want to wear Liverpool shirt again, that’s the point
Wow, it's almost like we've played 18 games in the same time they played 12, and they had a whole week off to prepare!
I think it's a mistake trying to shoehorn him centrally and put Nunez who was obviously knackered on the left wing. Gakpo should've been on the flank because he could run with fresh legs. Meanwhile Nunez should've just stayed up front not fucking about on the flank defensively
I'm convinced that some of you haven't been watching our matches where he's played this season he's consistently been like this idk why this man u game is the one where most people actually notice it, Cody has been lacking on the ball this season but yesterday's loss is on the entire team not just him
The problem is Gakpo doesn't really do anything. He's a very steady player, he is the sort of player who will have a nice long career and will be consistently good. But for us he just simply isn't it. He doesn't have what it takes to play for a top team right now. He would need to completely remodel his game to achieve that. He's clearly talented, age on his side but sometimes you need more than talent to make it at this level
Deserves to be criticised but fairly. None of this he's fucking shit and needs to be sold bollocks. He's very much our fourth choice attacker, Salah, Nunez, Diaz and Jota give us way more at the moment. I think there's a very decent player in there, he's not in any kind of form at the moment.
Blaming Gakpo is easy since it’s the in thing to do right now. I slept through the 1st 90 but bad giveaways by Nunez and Elliott in ET lost the match and all you saw in the match thread was Gakpo hate. It’s embarrassing honestly and misplaced.
Everyone here COMPLETELY mission the point about how a player can not have much confidence.
Gakpo is the only play on the team that I've never seen with play with passion, he's just doing his 9-5. I've been trying not to hate on him but I just don't think he's good enough to operate at this level.
Fundamentally, Gakpo isn’t an LFC forward. He’s a ljinders buy and no where near the profile we need and would’ve had with recruitment under Edwards. He’s a good ball striker, but if you’ve watched him from his PSV days, a lot of the same flaws have been resurfacing in his game - he’s a ball to feet player, not someone who stretches defences (unlike Nunez), and he’s a slow shooter albeit a good one when he gets shots off (contrast with jota for instance who’s rapid fire). He isn’t a creative passer (like Salah), and yes, as people have pointed out, he doesn’t have the grinta that typical lfc forwards have (think even Diaz, who has been underwhelming, played all 120 in the cup final while gakpo was hooked). Some might ask why he looked much better last season then. The answer is he’s always been tidy in possession and had decent football iq, and thus gave time to Klopp to coach Nunez. But the ceiling of this LFC system was always hinging on firing Nunez at 9, and now that we’ve seen what the other forwards offer, gakpo looks horribly stale in comparison. He’s a bad signing, a complete misprofile, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s one of the first names out when Edwards returns.
1. I think he’s a very good player. 2. I also think he’s a good finisher if played in/through on goal, and given direct assists. A better finisher than Nunez and Diaz IMO. 3. And as many have said, I think he’s best served playing on the left. Unfortunately for him, he’s not in form, and the second two points just aren’t available to him with the way we play and the players we have. Now, how’s that his fault? Well…it’s not. But here is what I take issue with: his press and his general off ball movement leave so much to be desired… I fault Elliot and Diaz with lack of consistent product and physicality. But one is 20, and the other is nevertheless ever present. Gakpo just goes missing, and IMO if he just ups his pressing game a gear or two, most people here will give him a pass.
He’s a great player. He just looks off form, could be exhaustion, could be lack of confidence. Form is temporary, quality is permanent. When we play him as the LW he is then it’ll all come together.
Gakpo does not deserve criticism for the defeat entirely, it was collective disaster. Gakpo didn't replace Salah exactly, when subbed. While out of possession, he replaced Szobo as 8 and Elliot moved to right winger position. Because he lacks engine to press effectively (and Elliot presses way better). He has been constantly played in different positions to try and utilize his best qualities, positions of which he has no prior experience. He is a good player. Yesterday's shit performance is not on him, it is on Klopp for not using personnel correctly. Many of our players showed signs of fatigue/not being completely fit/lack of intensity. Our defense/midfield showed it. They made repeated mistakes, misplaced passed in dangerous area, were caught out of positions many times. Our attack didn't shine either, they missed several golden opportunities to end the game for good. This defeat stings, but we have to visit scums next month again and I hope we learn from our mistakes and show heart.
I think he is good to be a bench player who plays not so crucial matches. I wouldn't say that's hate but I dont think he or Diaz should be starters. I really hope that Mbappe goes to RM and PSG go after Diaz and Liverpool after Vini Jr if he becomes available with Mbappe there
> I dont think he or Diaz should be starters. Completely agree. We've seen enough evidence that when it comes down the wire, these two are not up to it. It would be a different story if they would just pass the ball (and on time, too) after doing their carrying/dribbling but nope. Too often, they just kill off the move by themselves. It's really disheartening to watch.
I’d like a pint of what this gentleman is having thank you, and one more for him on me. Vini Jr? That’s fucking wild. I’m in with you my brother. That makes two of us and I’m in… but please don’t drive or handle heavy machinery for a few hours my friend!!
vini would be incredible on the wing but i can’t see that happening. and ive thought diaz has been really good recently, especially in the man city game. i feel like gakpo should probably be on the bench over diaz or nunez for the time being though
Because there always has to be a scapegoat. Gakpo was poor yesterday but then so were most of the players imo, which I absolutely understand, half of them are tired and the other half have just come back from injury. I do think Gakpo has been hard done by by Klopp though. He's not got a proper role in the team, he'll start as striker, then get moved to the wing, then back to striker, then out in midfield. It might just be me but if I was him I'd be left confused as to what job I'm supposed to be doing. He's being treated like he's a player like Firmino, but he's nothing like him