Jamie Carragher has questioned Jurgen Klopp's recruitment strategy, claiming Cody Gakpo lacks the key qualities of a Liverpool forward and raising yet more concerns over the club's midfield.
Gakpo, 23, joined the Reds from PSV Eindhoven in a transfer worth £45million during the January window. The move was a surprising one due to the speed it was completed with, but also because Liverpool's midfield appeared more in need of investment than their attack.
The days of Klopp's men dominating the battle in the centre of the park seem a distant memory, with poor form and injuries decimating their midfield this season. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have been out of sorts, youngsters Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho are still finding their feet and Arthur has made no impression since joining on loan from Juventus last summer.
The vast majority of the Anfield faithful would rather have welcomed a midfielder through the door in the winter window rather than a new attacker, including club legend Carragher. Writing in his Daily Telegraph column, the former centre-back pointed out that Liverpool have spent £180m on forwards - Luis Diaz, Carvalho, Darwin Nunez and Gakpo - since January 2022 while failing to buy a midfielder.
"Liverpool wanted to sign one (a midfielder) in Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, knowing his market value was £75million," Carragher wrote. "When Tchouameni chose Real Madrid, the money was there if Klopp wanted an alternative, but he opted to wait until 2023, hoping he will lure Jude Bellingham. That was Klopp's call, not owner John W. Henry's."
Instead, Liverpool allocated a big portion of their war chest to signing Gakpo, who has not registered a goal or assist in his first six games for the club despite lighting up the Eredivisie in the first half of the season. Carragher fears the Dutch international's woes are centred on the fact he is "not a typical Klopp signing" and lacks the attributes of one.
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The pundit added: "In attack, Diaz started his Liverpool career brilliantly but Nunez is a work in progress, and I am baffled watching Gakpo's early performances. Gakpo is not a typical Klopp signing, lacking lightning pace and the capacity to lead a high press.
"Why commit up to £45million on someone who will be on the bench when Diaz and Diogo Jota are fit? Especially when another area of the team needed strengthening?"
Klopp has been forced to play Gakpo more than he might have liked to following his midseason arrival due to the serious injuries Jota and Diaz suffered in the first half of the season. However, there is some good news for the Reds, as Jota has returned to training and could make the bench for Monday's clash with Everton, while his Colombian colleague is expected back in March.
