Liverpool have begun their January transfer window by completing the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven in a £45million deal.
Their domestic rivals Manchester United had been in negotiating a deal for the highly-regarded Netherlands forward, who scored three goals in five appearances at the World Cup in Qatar. Gakpo’s arrival will add to Liverpool ’s growing depth of attacking options.
The Reds are already scoring at a rate of over two goals per game in the Premier League this campaign with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in fine goal-scoring form with Darwin Nunez – a summer arrival from Benfica – also contributing in front of goal.
The arrival of Gakpo was so left-field as Liverpool’s priority position for strengthening in January had been their midfield, which is light in depth. While Sadio Mane’s summer exit to Bayern Munich came as a blow, their attacking options had been well-stocked with Nunez’s arrival following just months after Luis Diaz joined from Porto.
However, injury problems for Diaz, Firmino and Diogo Jota this campaign have left the Reds short in attacking options at time this campaign. So how will Jurgen Klopp line-up his side following the arrival of Gakpo?
When all players are fully fit, there is a conundrum.
Have Your Say! What would Liverpool’s strongest XI be after Gakpo’s arrival? Tell us what you think here.
Salah has the right-sided forward role tied down in a 4-3-3 formation while it would be anticipated that Diaz would start on the left – meaning Gakpo could start in a central role with Nunez dropping to the substitute’s bench, depending on form and fitness.
Dutch international Gakpo is primarily a left-sided player - although right footed - and a starting role on the left-side of attack at the expense of Diaz amid his current injury issues - and those of Diogo Jota - looks most likely at present.
That allows Nunez or Firmino to start in the central attacking role.
The arrival of Gakpo may also allow for greater rotation of Salah, who will celebrate his 31st birthday next summer.
However, Liverpool’s attacking issue is that none of their other forwards naturally play in the Egyptian’s role from the right – although this role may open up for Jota, or potentially even Gakpo himself.
Gakpo’s arrival could also prompt a formation change for Liverpool away from their 4-3-3 system; the PSV forward has played in a ‘No.10’ playmaker role for club and country, a position also familiar to both Jota and Firmino.
That could allow Nunez and Salah to play more centrally as a front two with less width in attack, which would be provided from the full-backs advancing up the pitch.
Certainly, his arrival on Merseyside gives Klopp greater flexibility and options in the second half of the season, as the Reds look to shake off the consistency issues that plagued the opening half of their 2022-23 campaign.
