How Liverpool will line up with Cody Gakpo

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 28 Dec 2022 21:14 GMT
• 4 min read

Liverpool have beaten Manchester United to the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. How will the Reds line up with the Dutch goal machine?

Gakpo was on the cusp of joining Man Utd last summer before they plumped for Ajax's Antony instead, and now the Red Devils' loss should prove the Reds' gain, with Liverpool completing his €57 million transfer on Wednesday.

Gakpo has been in explosive form since his United disappointment, plundering 13 goals and 17 assists for PSV this season at a rate of one every 65 minutes he played, before scoring three time in three group games for the Netherlands at the World Cup.

READ: Official: Liverpool beat Man Utd to sign €57m Cody Gakpo from PSV

Despite his incredible goal record, Gakpo isn't an out-and-out striker, and Liverpool look to finally have their long-term replacement for Sadio Mane, who left in a €41m move to Bayern Munich at the start of the season.

Gakpo will fit snuggly on the left-hand side of Liverpool's attack in what is Jurgen Klopp's preferred 4-3-3 system, and there are no prizes for guessing who lines up on the opposite flank with three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Mo Salah now up to seven goals for the season.

In between them is an interesting conundrum. Darwin Nunez has Klopp's trust following his €100m arrival from Benfica - and a goal-involvement every 86 minutes he has played - but Bobby Firmino is the side's seven-goal joint-top scorer in the league, one who boasts better link-up play.

READ: Liverpool's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Liverpool have been ravaged by injury in midfield, with each of Thiago Alcantara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and even Juventus loanee Arthur Melo finding themselves sidelined at various points already this season. Klopp wants Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, but may have to settle for Fiorentina's Morocco World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat.

Liverpool with Cody Gakpo

Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain two of the best full-backs in the division, even if the latter has taken a while to click into gear this season, while Virgil van Dijk and centre-back and Alisson behind him have their places assured.

Van Dijk's partner at centre-back has been Joe Gomez more often than not this season, but Ibrahima Konate is now completely recovered from injury while Joel Matip is a more than able alternative.

Liverpool remain in sixth, 15 points of Arsenal's league-setting pace, and there remains quite some work to be done, but already with Gakpo added to their side, they look like a deadlier proposition.