Cody Gakpo won’t replace Darwin Nunez as a No.9 for Liverpool - but the Dutchman can certainly be a forward partner to help unlock the best of the Uruguayan.
That said, it might be tricky for the Dutchman to push in ahead of Luis Diaz on the left wing - a position he’s shining in during the Euros for his country.
While the Netherlands stumbled into the last-16 after a surprise defeat by Austria on Tuesday night, Gakpo was the one real bright spark for Ronald Koeman’s side.
Gakpo enjoyed a much-improved second half of the season at Liverpool. He started to show why the Reds made the move to sign him 18 months ago. The Dutch forward was attracting interest from other clubs so the Reds move early for him. He joined halfway through a difficult campaign.
But last season as the Reds returned towards the top of the table, he had to be patient for opportunities. Some substitute appearances didn’t bring excitement. Some questioned why Liverpool invested £37m in him from PSV.
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But there was enough encouragement in the latter part of last term to suggest Gakpo can be a success at Anfield. Now he’s also showing it at the Euros in a Dutch side which hasn’t really clicked yet in Germany.
Gakpo, 25, is effective from the left. He scored and created one against Austria but Koeman’s outfit couldn’t keep them out at the other end.
His movement with and off the ball helped his side in their attacks. He helped Memphis Depay in all three group games. His movement and passing was particularly evident against Austria on Tuesday night. England will have to be wary of his threat. Kyle Walker won’t have an easy evening on Sunday if it is the Three Lions against the Dutch in the last 16.
Gakpo could be tasked with getting the best out of Darwin NunezBut the challenge for his compatriot Arne Slot at Liverpool will be finding a way to get him into the team regularly. Nunez has to, with an £85m fee, play and he’s best in a central role. Slot’s job will be to get him firing.
To do that he needs to find the best forward partners. Mo Salah is starting on the right. He’s Liverpool’s best player by some distance. But the left is where there could be change. Diaz has had spells of form but also, like Nunez, is wasteful in the final third with decision making not always there.
That could give someone like Gakpo opportunities. He doesn’t bring the same pace and flair as the Colombian but he is a calmer head in big moments. Those two seem set to duel it out for the position, but Gakpo has the other option of being back up to Nunez if he can’t force Diaz out.
But with Slot potentially changing up the formation from the 4-3-3 which Klopp used, there could also be a role for him playing just behind Nunez. It’s a big season for the Dutchman. With two goals in the Euros and potentially England to come, he will be hoping to impress further to show his new club manager he can be a regular starter next season.
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