Cody Gakpo: From '006' to the catalyst of Liverpool's revival

Robin Bairner

• 6 Mar 2023 07:12 CST
• 5 min read

Cody Gakpo’s move to Liverpool caught everyone off guard. The 23-year-old was always going to leave PSV, it was a matter of when and not if it would happen, but the expectation was he would head to Manchester United.

The Red Devils had courted him throughout the summer transfer window but opted to instead reunite manager Erik ten Hag with Antony. However, reports seemed to suggest a move for the versatile Dutchman was back on the agenda following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.

Then, out of nowhere, the Reds pounced. A deal believed to be worth in the region of £37 million was agreed upon and Gakpo was a Liverpool player before the month of December was out.

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It was a deal that raised a few eyebrows. The Merseysiders have a finite budget and many felt a midfielder was the priority having reinforced both the defensive and offensive thirds over recent windows. In fact, Liverpool had parted with over £100m to bring Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho to the club over a six-month period.

Adding another £40m signing to that department seemed a little excessive, especially when the midfield was struggling in most games. Yet that is exactly what the Reds did.

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With injuries to Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Diaz, Gakpo was thrown into the starting XI from the off and he didn’t have the best of beginnings to life as a Liverpool player. He went six games without a goal or an assist. The Reds won just one of those - an FA Cup replay against Wolves.

He was having to adapt to a new role in a new system in a new team in a new country. That alone is difficult enough but the fact Liverpool were in a state of limbo didn’t help the cause of their new No.18.

Rivals fans were writing him off, calling him 006 after zero assists or goals in six outings, while Liverpool fans wondered what the plan was.

Now, five games later, it all makes sense.

Gakpo off and running with Liverpool

Gakpo got off the mark in the Merseyside derby victory over Everton and then followed that up with a goal against Newcastle United. He then netted twice in the historic 7-0 victory versus Manchester United.

Though he primarily played as a left winger for PSV, he’s almost been exclusively used as a centre forward for Liverpool. He’s been transformed as a player and in turn, he’s had a transformative impact on the team.

The Reds are currently unbeaten in five Premier League matches and have taken 13 points from a possible 15 during this period. This run of form has catapulted them up the table and they are now just three points off of a top-four place with a game in hand on Spurs.

Liverpool have kept five successive clean sheets and have a goal difference of +13 in games against Everton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Manchester United.

This defensive turnaround has been instrumental in the climb up the table. Key to that has been Gakpo. The 14-cap Netherlands international is being deployed as a false-nine which few would’ve envisaged when he signed.

The decision to do this shores up the midfield and plugs the gaps that were continually being exposed by the opposition earlier on in the season. It also gives this Liverpool team more balance.

Whereas earlier in the campaign, the right-sided midfielder would join the attack to make it a front four, it is now a little more staggered. Gakpo will drop a little deeper alongside the more attack-minded midfielder so that the Reds have three lines of two. An example can be seen below.

The subtle tweak means Liverpool can pick up second balls in central areas and they are also in positions to press the ball if there is a turnover. Contrast that with the shape before Gakpo’s arrival.

Of course, it is a different situation against a different system but against Brentford, Darwin Nunez was expected to keep possession when effectively up against six players. Liverpool aren’t in a position to pick up any second balls or prevent any potential counters.

This was a common occurrence and it was one of the reasons why the Reds seemed to be a lot more exposed than we’d come to expect.

With the return of the false-nine tactic combined with the performances of Gakpo, Liverpool seem much more like their old selves. In four of their last five Premier League matches, the opposition have failed to create chances with an Expected Goals value of over one.

Gakpo isn’t solely responsible for the turnaround but he’s played a significant role. Klopp resisted the temptation to add a midfielder in January but did come up with a way to improve the midfield unit.