Gakpo Under Spotlight as Liverpool Title Bid Fades
If Liverpool’s Premier League defence has drifted off course, who carries the heaviest share of responsibility? As reported by Footballfancast.com.
Arne Slot began the season with aspirations of retaining the title. That ambition has evaporated, with Arsenal pulling clear. Domestic and European cups remain live pursuits, yet failure to secure silverware or even a top five finish would leave a bitter taste, especially after a record breaking summer of spending.
Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were billed as statements of intent. They were framed as upgrades, particularly on Darwin Nunez, whose £65m move in 2022 never fully delivered before his sale to Al Hilal. Nunez’s 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 games were respectable, but the inconsistency in front of goal proved costly.
Liverpool believed they had turned a page. The concern now is that a familiar chapter is reappearing.
Cody Gakpo Comparison Raises Uncomfortable Parallels
Since joining in January 2023 for £40m, Cody Gakpo has oscillated between promise and frustration. He arrived during turbulence, when Klopp’s system was misfiring. Liverpool then surged, lifting the Carabao Cup and the Premier League, before momentum dipped again.
Gakpo remains technically gifted. His performance against Brighton in the FA Cup offered a reminder of his quality. However, repetition has crept into his game. Cutting in from the left, shifting onto his stronger foot and shooting became devastating last season. This term, it feels easier to read.
Data provides nuance. The Netherlands international has created 1.6 chances per Premier League match and won 4.6 duels on average, missing only three big chances while scoring five goals. Those numbers do not scream crisis. Yet football is rarely decided by spreadsheets alone.
As one fan voice, John Sullivan, has put it, Gakpo has become a “far bigger issue than Salah”. That is a striking claim given Mohamed Salah’s visible drop off at 33. Age offers context for Salah. Gakpo, entering his physical prime, is judged by different standards.
Tactical Balance and Recruitment Questions
The wider tactical picture compounds the issue. Sporting director Richard Hughes and his team made the bold decision to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich without sourcing a direct replacement. The faith placed in teenager Rio Ngumoha as understudy has yielded limited opportunities.
On the left flank, Gakpo’s understanding with Milos Kerkez has not clicked as analysts might have envisaged. That lack of synergy affects Liverpool’s overall rhythm. Slot’s system relies on cohesion between full back and wide forward. When that falters, the knock on effect spreads.
There is an echo here of the Nunez debate. Talent was never in doubt. Klopp once described Gakpo’s qualities as “special”. The issue lies in consistency and decision making. Doing the same thing repeatedly, even when defenders anticipate it, can blunt impact.
Liverpool’s hierarchy acted decisively last summer to eliminate profligacy. If Gakpo’s trajectory stalls, similar scrutiny may follow. That feels harsh, yet standards at Anfield remain exacting.
Season at Crossroads for Liverpool
Liverpool’s campaign has not collapsed, but it hangs in balance. Cup runs can reshape narratives quickly. Champions League progression would soften domestic disappointment. Missing out on elite European qualification would harden judgement.
Gakpo embodies that tension. He is neither failure nor fulfilment. He sits in between, capable of brilliance yet too often drifting into predictability.
The next months will define how this season is remembered. For Liverpool, and for Gakpo, there is little margin for drift.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, the comparison with Nunez feels uncomfortable but not entirely unfair.
Fans backed Nunez despite the chaos, hoping raw attributes would settle into efficiency. With Gakpo, the frustration is subtler. He is tidy, intelligent and technically sound, yet matches pass without decisive imprint. Supporters crave reliability on the left, someone who can influence games weekly rather than sporadically.
The sale of Diaz still divides opinion. Some believe it was necessary to refresh the attack. Others feel it removed unpredictability without adequate cover. Ngumoha’s emergence is exciting, but leaning on a 17 year old in a title race carries risk.
There remains faith in Gakpo’s ceiling. His work rate and versatility are valued. Yet patience at Anfield is linked to progress. If he sharpens his edge and varies his approach, narrative shifts quickly.
Liverpool fans have seen careers pivot on small adjustments. They will hope this is one of those moments rather than the start of a wider concern.
