How Will Gakpo Fit In Well At Liverpool? Nunez’s Partner, Salah’s Provider or Firmino’s Replacement?

The PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands forward, Cody Gakpo is expected to be signed by the Reds for £44 million ahead of Manchester United.

Liverpool’s January shopping season appears to be well under way.

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After winning 3-1 at Aston Villa to ring in the holiday season, Reds supporters had further good news when it was revealed that they had reached an agreement with the Dutch international forward Cody Gakpo’s club, PSV Eindhoven.

Gakpo is departing for Merseyside for a physical, and although the procedures have not yet been completed, it is anticipated that the deal will be finished by the time the transfer market opens on January 1. The initial cost of the transaction is anticipated to be £37 million (€42 million/$45 million), with add-ons driving up the price to about £44 million (€50 million/$53 million).

The victory is a setback for Manchester United, who had been in the lead to sign the 23-year-old, but a major triumph for Jurgen Klopp, who was looking for reinforcements after Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota sustained injuries.

Gakpo had been targeted initially for the summer, but Liverpool moved quickly to sign the versatile forward after it became evident PSV were willing to sell in January.

In this article, THEEAGLE examines how he might fit in at Anfield.

False 9

The two things that Gakpo excels at the most are scoring goals and making goals. He is therefore a natural choice to play as a center-forward.

With 12 goals and 14 assists in 19 Eredivisie and Europa League games this season for PSV, his record has been nothing short of spectacular. His form carried over to the World Cup in Qatar, where he scored three times to help the Netherlands advance to the quarterfinals.

By no means is he a traditional No. 9, but Liverpool, who are used to playing with Roberto Firmino, the classic “False Nine,” may find that to their liking.

Gakpo is not Firmino, but he can drift into deeper spaces and link plays, which would be advantageous for players like Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez who start out wide but have a tendency for getting into scoring positions in the center of the field.

Potential line-up (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

Off the left wing

Gakpo has spent the majority of his PSV career playing wide, and it is simple to see how he may benefit Liverpool off the left flank in the interim while Diaz recovers from his knee injury.

While he isn’t particularly speedy, he isn’t slow either, and Andy Robertson, who likes to advance from the left back, would benefit from his desire to drift infield onto his right foot.

Gakpo’s positional play has improved a lot over the past year. His awareness and off-the-ball abilities have been developed through work with a personal tactics coach, Loran Vrielink, and his physicality should enable him to withstand the demands of the Premier League and Liverpool’s aggressive pressing style. He would be a much more obvious choice for a front three than, say, Fabio Carvalho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, or Curtis Jones because of his goal threat.

Potential line-up (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

As a No.10

Perhaps a system adjustment is in order? Given the uncertainty surrounding the composition and durability of their midfield, it would not come as a great surprise to see Liverpool try out a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 configuration once Gakpo joins the team.

At the World Cup, he appeared at ease playing off Memphis Depay as a No. 10 for the Netherlands. His ability to find a decisive final ball—a pass or a shot—would give Klopp an edge if he decided to use a four-forward formation.

Gakpo could easily play behind Nunez, Salah, or even Firmino in contests that Liverpool would anticipate sweeping.

Potential line-up (4-2-3-1): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Thiago, Fabinho, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez, Firmino

Long Term Future?

In the near future, it will be interesting to watch how Klopp balances his attacking wealth.

The addition of Gakpo raises concerns over Firmino’s future. The Brazilian’s contract expires in the summer, and while an extension is possible, it seems doubtful that Liverpool would field a lineup with six mature, elite attackers. Oxlade-ability Chamberlain’s to leave on a free transfer at the conclusion of the season is all but guaranteed for the same reason.

Klopp will presumably cover all of his bases. Salah’s unwavering brilliance and consistency, Diaz’s directness and vigor, Jota’s pressing and skill in the penalty area, Nunez’s presence, unpredictability, and ability to sneak up behind the defense, and now Gakpo’s originality and goal-scoring ability. Beyond that, the potential of 20-year-olds Fabio Carvalho and Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak is enormous.

Overall, Liverpool is experiencing exciting times. Now to organise that midfield…