‘Coaches need to fix it quickly’ – Liverpool fans query Cody Gakpo’s role

Cody Gakpo’s Struggles: Liverpool’s Weak Link in a Perfect Start?

Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby extended their perfect start to the Premier League season, but not every player came away with glowing reviews. Cody Gakpo, once considered a key cog in Arne Slot’s system, continues to frustrate both fans and analysts with his lack of end product.

Speaking on The Gags Tandon Show, host Gags Tandon didn’t mince his words:

“Cody has not started the season very well for me. In that first 30 minutes, which were fantastic, he was the weak link. We could have made it even worse for Everton had he just had the composure to play proper passes.”

It wasn’t just in the first half. Tandon pointed to a glaring miss after half-time:

“Even in the second half, he missed a one-on-one that Hugo [Ekitike] was in. He just missed a pass that would’ve put Hugo through. I’m frustrated by him, should I say.”

Confidence Crisis?

Lewis, also on the show, believes the problem is as much mental as technical:

“We know how good of a player Gakpo is. We’ve seen it for the Netherlands and we saw it for us last season. But there are moments where I look at him and just think you’re not confident in yourself. Beat someone. Have a go. Try and get past them instead of constantly cutting inside and running into danger.”

For Lewis, the issue isn’t ability but decision-making. While Salah cuts inside and still finds the right pass, Gakpo too often fails to release the ball:

“Gakpo tries the exact same thing. He’s just not good at it. He’s not good at finding a pass. He’s not good at picking someone out. It always goes back to the midfielder who’s deepest, and then Salah creates something from nothing. He’s doing the same thing—just not well.”

Tactical Stubbornness

Tandon went further, suggesting Gakpo’s refusal to use the overlap is driving teammates to distraction:

“At one point in Discord, we started a count of how many times he was going to ignore Kirk overlapping him. Literally, we started, and then he finally passed to him—for the first time this season. Kirk’s been screaming for it. It must be so frustrating playing with him.”

The question now is whether Slot can persist with Gakpo in his current role, especially when alternatives like Florian Wirtz are waiting in the wings. Some fans have even called for Ekitike to shift left to accommodate both him and Alexander Isak in the starting XI.

The Verdict

The frustration is not that Gakpo lacks talent—his ability was on full display last season—but that he isn’t maximising it. Liverpool cannot afford passengers in their pursuit of silverware. Unless Gakpo sharpens his decision-making and becomes braver in execution, his place in the starting XI may soon be under threat.

As Tandon summed up:

“He’s got so much ability. He cuts in so well. He attracts so many players. I keep saying it every show: find a pass. You’ve got three players in front of you—dink it, don’t shoot. They’re going to block you. It’s so brainless at times.”

For now, Gakpo remains Liverpool’s puzzle piece out of place.

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