Your evening Liverpool headlines on Saturday, January 28.
Robbie Fowler identifies biggest issue behind Cody Gakpo struggles as Liverpool truth emerges
Through little fault of his own, it's been a difficult first month for Cody Gakpo at Liverpool.
Having been confirmed as a Reds player shortly before the turn of the year, the Netherlands international has found it tough to take flight in his fledgling weeks at Anfield.
Arriving into a team lacking confidence and short on options, particularly up top, Gakpo has been immediately thrust into proceedings as a result, with unfair demands placed on him given his attempts to adjust to a new life on Merseyside at a time when results and performances of Jurgen Klopp's side have been way short of the required standard. A move out of a hotel room in the coming days into a new home should at least help significantly in the adaptation process off the pitch.
Gakpo says: "From a football perspective, it's a new environment on the pitch, with new players and a new team. I can tell it's a really great group. Every day I am looking forward to working with them, to train hard and to play the games. I am trying to adapt as quickly as possible, to improve every day and in the end show the best version of myself."
The expectations on the £37m forward to instantly perform have been harsh, which is something manager Klopp recognised in Friday's pre-match press conference before Sunday's FA Cup trip to Brighton.
"I am completely happy," Klopp said of his new arrival's opening month at the club. "People say he didn’t score but coming as a striker in our team at this moment ‘congratulations!’ And then getting judged because you don’t score, that's really cool…internally it is all fine and he is fine. He is a smart boy, he really wants to learn and is a good listener. Everything is fine."
Paul Gorst has more, here.
Liverpool predicted line-up vs Brighton as Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold decisions made
Liverpool will begin the second phase of their FA Cup defence on Sunday afternoon when they face Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
For manager Jurgen Klopp it will mark a swift return to the location of the "worst" game he has overseen during his 22-year managerial career. Of course, that is a reference to the 3-0 defeat on the south coast earlier this month when goals from Solly March and Danny Welbeck prompted the Liverpool boss to make such a damning declaration.
On Sunday, the stakes will be largely different for both Liverpool and Roberto De Zerbi's side. The Seagulls have been one of the Premier League's surprise performers so far this term and find themselves keeping up with the European-chasing pack as the season passes the mid-point. So any additional fixtures between now and May could be seen as a possible distraction by the Italian.
For the Reds, the trip to the Amex will be another welcomed relief from the exertions of Premier League football, which have got the better of Klopp's side on numerous occasions so far this season.
For the full story, click here.
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