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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Paul Gorst

Liverpool players raving about 'incredible' Cody Gakpo after Roberto Firmino comparisons

Liverpool Cody Gakpo Roberto Firmino Jurgen Klopp West Ham Luis Diaz Echo Manchester United PSV

It was a goal that might, in time, become known as a trademark Cody Gakpo strike.

The Liverpool forward's sharp turn and 20-yard effort, that fizzed in via the post, was a goal that the Netherlands international has been threatening to score almost since his first day as a Reds player.

Ask Jurgen Klopp about the Dutchman's qualities and he will wax lyrical, enthused by the skillset of his £37m January signing. Shooting from distance, the manager has always professed, is one of Gakpo's strengths, as is his close control and ability to take possession in tight areas.

"His shooting from distance [is] outstanding," Klopp gushed in January, adding: "It is an extreme strength of his and he has a long-term contract here and everybody will see that."

So it will have been no surprise for the Reds manager when he watched Gakpo shift smartly from a Trent Alexander-Arnold pass before rifling Liverpool back into the game against West Ham on Wednesday night.

It was the Netherlands international's sixth since joining from PSV at the start of the year and arguably his best yet in a Liverpool shirt. With Roberto Firmino set to depart in just a few weeks after a glorious eight-year period, Gakpo is clearly being readied as the heir to the 'false 9' throne that will be vacated by the Brazilian at Anfield.

"I’m enjoying it," Gakpo says. "It was a new position for me but it’s been good for me to develop as a player and I like it. [I can] drop a little, link the play, is something I can do to become an extra man in the midfield at times. I just have to find my spaces to help the midfielders and the attacker as much as I can."

Prior to Joel Matip's winning goal at the London Stadium, the previous 20 for Liverpool had all been scored by forwards, with Gakpo registering four of those in games against Manchester United (2), Leeds and West Ham on Wednesday.

With Diogo Jota providing four, Mohamed Salah registering seven and Darwin Nunez (3) and Roberto Firmino (2) sharing five between them, the goalscoring burden is most certainly being shared around at present. Throw in the recent return of Luis Diaz and the manager has quite the array of firepower to choose from.

"It’s good for the coach to have a lot of options," Gakpo tells the ECHO in a post-match chat after the West Ham win. "Every game is different, for another opponent you might need something else. It’s good to be able to mix it up. It’s nice to have such options. We needed that win to put pressure on the teams above us. The only thing we can do is get the best results we can possibly get."

It hasn't been a seamless transition for Gakpo since he joined Liverpool at the very start of the January transfer window. He arrived at a time when the team's confidence was low, injuries were biting hard and results were suffering.

A dreadful start to 2023 saw Klopp's side well beaten at Brentford, Brighton and Wolves while a struggling Chelsea held them to a goalless draw at Anfield. Gakpo was showing flashes of his quality but was unable to make a telling contribution until his first goal arrived in a Merseyside derby win on February 13. Since then he has began to really showcase his blend of pace, poise and power on a more regular basis.

"Cody has been brilliant since he came in the door," Jordan Henderson tells the ECHO. "I thought he was outstanding. It was a difficult period for us as a team but he’s been the one really who has been really consistent with his performances. He’s an outstanding player.

"He’s made a big difference for us in games. Hopefully it can continue, he is still young, he wants to learn all the time and he works so hard. Long may it continue.

"He's got different qualities that can help him defend as a No.10 to drop deep and get on the ball and help us in the build up, so like I say he has been incredible for me and hopefully he can keep that going. He's only been here a few months so hopefully he continues to grow and I am sure he will be a big player for the club."

The early struggles of Gakpo had some questioning the wisdom of Liverpool's decision to invest what could amount to £44m on a new forward at a time when midfield was in desperate need of attention.

The Reds' recruitment department has rightly developed a reputation as one of the most studious and successful in football in recent years and sporting director Julian Ward worked intensely over a three-day period between Christmas Eve and Boxing Night to thrash out a deal with his PSV counterpart, Marcel Brands, to fend off interest from elsewhere, most notably Manchester United.

However, with a squad in transition and in need of reinforcements for the centre of the park, the decision to bring in another forward when Firmino and Diaz would be returning before the end of the campaign did not always appear a smart move. Until now, it seems.

The Liverpool striker adds: "It was an important win for us. As an attacking player, it’s always nice to score goals so I’m happy. The guys made me feel like I belonged here from the first minute I came in. I’m very grateful for how they treated me in the beginning. As time has gone on, I’ve become more comfortable and confident. I feel like this is home."

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