Liverpool’s injury disaster presents an probability for Cody Gakpo to finally get his Premier League marketing campaign up and running, starting with an appealing show against Luton Town.
Until now it has been a irritating season for the Netherlands international, who has solely began successive top-flight fits as soon as given that August.
He has been dropped in and out of Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI and is but to whole 90 minutes outside of cup games, so it has been tough for the 24-year-old to locate his flow.
Gakpo has now not imposed himself on suits as nicely as he would have hoped, frequently finding himself on the periphery compared to Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.
But he presses well, he runs with the ball greater smoothly than Klopp’s alternative striker options and he wins a higher variety of aerial duels.
The Dutchman’s slippery movement and potential to beat defenders with a dribble should now be specifically beneficial as he appears to create space and reason issues for Luton’s compact back three at Anfield.
In phrases of offering a steady aim threat, Gakpo is at the back of the likes of Nunez, Jota and Salah, who have all scored goals at a faster charge than the former PSV Eindhoven man, who averages one every 242.7 minutes.
They additionally have greater ordinary touches inner the opposition box, averaging over eight apiece per 90 in contrast with Gakpo’s 4.82.
If he receives the threat to begin in opposition to the Hatters as Liverpool’s precept centre-forward, it will be vital he stamps his mark by means of typically trying out the traffic in and round their goal.
All-purpose finishing
Gakpo, who ran via to rating a stunning intention with his left foot in Saturday’s 4-1 success at Brentford, is a very adaptable finisher.
In all competitions he has scored 10 times for Liverpool this season, with 4 of these coming in the League Cup and two coming in the UEFA Europa League.
He has break up these desires equally between strikes with his left and proper foot, and the nature of his ending has also varied between first-time hits and the use of more touches to manoeuvre the ball prior to shooting.
Gakpo's vary of finishes
Sharp in tight areas
The Netherlands superstar has a striker’s nose internal the box, naturally anticipating the place a ball may land.
He confirmed that when darting closer to the close to and a long way posts respectively to meet low crosses from Salah against Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as shown in the snap shots below.
Touch and turn
Rob Edwards’s facet will be wary of Gakpo’s runs closer to the far post on Wednesday night, and they would also be cautioned to get tight ample to cease him turning inside the area.
The 24-year-old marksman is unsafe with his again to goal, as he likes to shift the ball onto his more advantageous right foot before hitting a shot on the swivel.
His Premier League aim against Tottenham Hotspur and his strike at domestic to Leicester City in the League Cup both showcased this attribute excellently.
On both activities he managed the ball with his back to intention earlier than turning one hundred eighty stages on the spot to hit his shot while rotating his body.
Gakpo, who scored seven league desires in 17 starts from January onwards in 2022/2023, will now not be cosy with his contemporary return.
After reserving most of his higher performances for cup matches, he will truely be extremely decided to take hold of this Premier League chance with each hands.
As a established finisher, he perhaps just wants a longer run in the Liverpool facet to show what he can do.
With Jota sidelined, a begin and a purpose in opposition to Luton could set Gakpo up for a strong finish to this campaign.