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Tag: cody Gakpo

Liverpool currently have six undroppable players as £37m deal May be priceless

While playing a preseason friendly against Bayern Munich, Cody Gakpo once again showed his mettle and has the potential to excel at Liverpool.

The Dutchman took Bayern Munich by surprise with a stunt that has become a regular feature of Cody Gakpo’s game since moving to Liverpool eight months ago.

After a deft one-two with Diogo Jota, Gakpo was closing in on Yann Sommer’s goal and only two minutes had passed in Liverpool’s last preseason game before their 2023 tour of Singapore.

Gakpo gave the Bundesliga champions a scare with a sublime weak-footed strike after making one touch to caress the ball and another to steady himself. This gave Liverpool the lead. With Kopties having moved from PSV Eindhoven, the 23-year-old saw this all too familiar sight as he received the ball in a deep central area.
It was a lightning-fast, back-to-front sequence that started.

In addition to being his second preseason goal, the £37 million January signing’s most recent standout performance has him well-positioned to start at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

Even though Josip Stanisic and Frans Kratzig’s late goals sealed an incredible comeback for Bayern Munich, which saw Jurgen Klopp’s team lose 4-3 at the Singapore National Stadium, Liverpool will be returning to Merseyside on Wednesday night with the knowledge that their goal-scoring ranks are strong ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Aside from his outstanding opening goal, Gakpo’s performance on Wednesday highlighted his place among the essential—and possibly untouchable—members of Liverpool’s team. Only players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bryan Ruiz, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Mohamed Salah can truly claim to be at such an elite level at Anfield.

That ranking represents a significant difference from the feeling that met his arrival on Merseyside eight months ago after then-sporting director Julian Ward had utilised the festive period to thrash out a deal with his Dutch counterparts at PSV. In fact, the sight of Gakpo posing in Liverpool red for the first time was met with a fair amount of perplexity by some quarters of the fanbase given Klopp’s side had been crying out for midfield reinforcements for the best part of two-and-a-half years.

However, his latest showing in Singapore – not for the first time in the fledgling stages of his Liverpool career – will have left Bayern Munich and other heavyweights of the European game clenching their fists in frustration.

At a time when the Bundesliga champions are looking to right the wrongs of a first season in nine years without Robert Lewandowski by striking a deal for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, which, if finalised, is expected to cost in the excess of £90m, Gakpo’s excellence at both leading the line and operating out of possession cannot be understated.

Though even with the apparent impasse in negotiations with the North London outfit, Thomas Tuchel’s side, who also saw their attacking ranks weakened by the departure of Sadio Mane earlier this week, still managed to tally four goals past Alisson Becker.

However, after the questionable officiating that overlooked Wednesday’s game – mainly for Bayern’s first and fourth goals – and Liverpool’s obvious teething problems as their defenders continue to get up to speed with the requirements of their new-look 3-2-2-3 formation, the 4-3 victory certainly holds no danger of persuading Tuchel to cease his long-standing pursuit of Kane.

Having said that, the 2020 Champions League winners are not the only side who will be left to lament Ward’s masterstroke and final notable act as Liverpool’s transfer chief. Of course, such efficiency led to the Reds besting Manchester United in the race to land Gakpo, who, as a fellow Dutchman, Erik Ten Hag had been a main admirer of.

As a result, United’s search for a focal point of their attack has led them to agree to a £72m fee with Atalanta for 20-year-old Rasmus Højlund. His imminent move to Old Trafford comes after stop-gap solution Wout Weghorst fired blank in his 17 Premier League outings last term while on loan from Championship side Burnley.

Meanwhile, back in Singapore, Gakpo’s first-half performance was further complemented by an equally as impressive cameo on the left side of midfield in the second half, shortly before he was replaced by 18-year-old Bobby Clark.

“I played in midfield a few times last season already,” said Gakpo, speaking to the ECHO in the Far East earlier this week. “I just have to see what’s going to happen, if I maybe play in the midfield or in the striker position or somewhere else. There are multiple options. Do I have a preference? Just to play!”.

Bayern Munich would have been understood for being relieved to see the back of Liverpool’s No. 18 when he was withdrawn on 61 minutes. That would, however, stand true if his impending exit wasn’t supplemented by the introductions of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez shortly after half time.

On that basis, it’s fair to say Liverpool’s arsenal is well-stocked ahead of next week’s Premier League get-go.

August 3, 2023
Defenceless! Six things came to light as Bayern Munich ruthlessly exposed Liverpool’s flimsy backline.

Although the Reds have a strong front line, they are once again giving up far too many goals, making a title challenge unlikely.

Liverpool’s 4-3 friendly loss to Bayern Munich in Singapore on Wednesday painfully demonstrated the need for defensive reinforcements. The Reds showed off their offensive prowess once more as Cody Gakpo scored the game’s first goal just two minutes after it began, and Virgil van Dijk doubled their lead.

By utilizing the enormous space between Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Serge Gnabry was able to score once and set up another goal for Leroy Sane to tie the game for Bayern before the break.

After conceding twice in the final two minutes, Josip Stanisic tied the score at 3-3 before Frans Kratzig scored a thunderous goal to give Bayern the victory. Luis Diaz, a second-half substitute who had been set up by Mohamed Salah, restored Liverpool’s lead.

As Jurgen Klopp’s team gave up four goals for the second time in three preseason games, GOAL examines what we learned from the match at the Singapore National Stadium.

The fantastic offensive options for Liverpool.

Liverpool shouldn’t have a problem scoring goals this year. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking if they challenged Manchester City for the league’s most goals. Their offensive options are truly incredible, as evidenced by the fact that only Salah is currently guaranteed to start against Chelsea on Sunday.

Gakpo is likely the best choice to play through the middle after a successful preseason outing here. The Dutchman demonstrated his talent by combining with Diogo Jota for the game’s opening goal and emphatically finishing with his left foot. Because of his combination of talent and versatility, the latter player could, of course, also play in the middle or out wide. However, Diaz, who handled his goal admirably, is the more natural winger and the left flank would be the preferred position for the majority of supporters.

But let’s not forget that up until this point in their friendly matches, Darwin Nunez had been one of Liverpool’s most intelligent players. He would likely be the more conventional choice to lead the line given his height and physical presence, but his lightning-quick speed makes him a tempting option out wide as well.

At Stamford Bridge, Klopp will have the best kind of selection dilemma because all of his forwards were healthy and productive during preseason.

Jones an option but not the solution at No.6

Liverpool obviously needs a new No.6 after losing both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia.

Romeo Lavia is a target for Southampton, who have already turned down two offers for the Belgian. However, it was encouraging to learn that Fluminense’s Andre is being considered as a potential replacement because a defensive midfield specialist is obviously needed.

The England Under-21 international Curtis Jones has the self-assurance to play the part, as Klopp claimed before the game that he could have “a massive impact in that position.”. In Singapore, he took the ball several times under pressure and used quick, shrewd turns to escape sticky situations. But since the position in question takes some time to master, Liverpool can’t really afford to have Jones pick up skills on the job.

Van Dijk will enjoy the new position.

There were many candidates to replace Henderson as Liverpool’s captain. Van Dijk receiving the armband from Klopp was not entirely unexpected, though. In actuality, the Dutchman was the obvious choice. The most important player on the team is also the defense’s leader.

He clearly enjoys the role, so it wasn’t a surprise when he scored on his first appearance as the team’s new captain. Van Dijk quite literally excelled, towering over the Bayern back line to head in an Andy Robertson corner.

Van Dijk looked like a serious threat every time he moved forward for a set-piece, so Liverpool will be hoping it’s the first of many this season. Even more encouragingly, he made a number of crucial interventions when those around him appeared to be lost, which only served to highlight how well-suited he was for his new position.

In terms of defense, Reds continue to struggle.

Liverpool’s defensive issues haven’t just vanished. The Alexander-Arnold puzzle is still a mystery to Klopp and his coaching staff. However, this inverted right-back position is still causing problems on the right side of the backline, especially when Joel Matip is playing. The versatile England international adds so much offensively when he moves into midfield.

Despite having many positive traits, the Cameroonian simply lacks the necessary speed and agility to cover for Alexander-Arnold when he is occupying more advanced positions, as both of Bayern’s goals highlighted.

In the first instance, Alexander-Arnold was out of position and was unable to react in time to Gnabry’s most straightforward inward run after receiving a pass from Kim Min-jae. Gnabry then cut inside Matip far too easily before scoring the goal.

The second goal was uncannily similar, but this time Alexander-Arnold wasn’t to blame for getting high up the pitch; after all, that’s what he’s supposed to do. As Gnabry was once again given a free run at Matip before leaving Sane with a simple finish, Liverpool simply lost the ball at the worst possible time for him and his team.

Alexander-Arnold’s acceptance by Liverpool entails a gamble, but the question of whether the risk is worthwhile must be raised once more.

Alisson must perform more miracles.

Liverpool is therefore very fortunate that Alisson appears to be on track for another successful season full of incredible saves given their persistent defensive shortcomings. the No. Only David de Gea managed to keep more clean sheets than Alisson (14), despite the fact that 1 was severely let down by his back four countless times last season.

According to this evidence, Liverpool will need the Brazilian to be at his brilliant best once more if they want to stand a chance of returning to the top four. Making a series of sensational stops in Singapore, he at least appears up to the challenge. I mean, Liverpool might have given up eight goals if Alisson hadn’t saved them!

August 3, 2023
Karlsruher 2-4 Liverpool: Diogo Jota scores twice in stoppage time as Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister make debuts

In Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Karlsruher, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister made their professional debuts, but the goals were scored by Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo before Diogo Jota scored the first of his two stoppage-time goals in Germany to win the game.

Diogo Jota, a late substitute for Liverpool, scored twice to help the Reds defeat Karlsruher 4-2 after coming back from a goal down.

Within three minutes, Darwin Nunez had put Liverpool ahead, but goals from Lars Stindl and Sebastian Jung after the break gave the second-tier German team the lead in their brand-new stadium. However, Jota’s late victory came after Gakpo’s well-deserved equalizer and before the late drama.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister made their debuts, playing a half each, but Jordan Henderson was nowhere to be found. The Liverpool captain will relocate to Saudi Arabia to play for Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq team.

When Nunez’s left-footed goal gave Liverpool the lead, it seemed like it would be an easy night. The Uruguayan player passed up his first shot opportunity to assist Mohamed Salah, but his teammate immediately passed it back to him so he could score.

Szoboszlai displayed some deft touches as Liverpool took control early on with Trent Alexander-Arnold sporting a new haircut and playing as an actual midfielder. Nevertheless, Karlsruher re-entered the contest, and Stindl’s equalizer erupted into a blaze of glory in the stadium.

The emotional reunion this summer, which served as a fitting way to commemorate the opening of the Wildpark, was made by the former Germany international who began his professional career with the organization. Stindl volleyed past Caoimhin Kelleher, who was defenseless, after a left-wing corner was pulled back to him.

Stindl played a key role in the goal that gave Karlsruher the lead. He skillfully sent Jung away on the right, and the high shot found the near post. Although there was a significant turnaround, Liverpool, who had made 11 substitutions at the break, then took control.

Gakpo once more equalized the score when he calmly beat the goalkeeper after calmly receiving the knockdown from the leaping Jota just yards from goal. When Gakpo switched to being the provider in stoppage time, it appeared as though that was the case, but Jota ultimately had the say.

Three minutes of stoppage time may not seem like much, but it was enough for the Portugal forward to score twice. He danced through for the game’s first goal and then added another to seal Liverpool’s victory.

Klopp pleased with Szoboszlai and others

When speaking to LFC TV after the game, Klopp stated that it was evident that the new players were superior at counter-pressing in the first half. “They left after the boss said to do so. Everyone must complete that. We must all do it together, not because it is my idea.

“I really enjoyed Dom [Szoboszlai]. especially with only half of his left. Bobby (Clark) accomplished a lot. Conor Bradley was outstanding. All of those are encouraging signs. Let’s move forward. Although it wasn’t a game that changed the course of the season, we prevailed, and as far as I’m aware, no one is in trouble.

“I already told the boys that we probably played twice as many passes from the last line into the half spaces in the first 20 minutes of the second half as we did in the first. Trent received the ball while we waited, and we then watched to see what he could accomplish. But it’s all right. Early stages.

With Cody, Diogo, Macca, and the kids on the left and right, you could see in the second half what they are capable of. Kostas (Tsimikas), who has never played that position [in midfield] in his entire life, was an absolute joy to watch. I liked the last line.

“We triumph 4-2. Of course, we could have lost it. However, they excelled. Really organized. They achieved two world records. Wow. Fine. The boys now have their first day off since we began [this Thursday]. Let’s use that to recover before moving forward once more. “.

Szoboszlai’s verdict on his first game

Szoboszlai told LFC TV after the game, “I just give my best every single day. “Every morning, I consider how I can perform well and give my all in every game. For this opportunity, I have worked incredibly hard, and I will keep doing so.

“Winning the game feels great, of course. For the first game, I believe we tried everything. It felt wonderful. We are currently focusing on the second one.

“I am familiar with this style of football play because the teammates are nice people and the manager is German. So, it’s nothing new for me, but I still have to give it my all every day, so that’s what I’m going to do. “.

July 19, 2023
How Liverpool might line up following a triple deal of £130 million to change the midfield

Liverpool’s squad for next season could soon take shape as transfer plans move forward

Liverpool will report for pre-season soon as they gear up for another season.

The Reds are eager to make up for the mistakes of last season, which ended with no trophies and the team failed to finish in the Champions League.

To once again become a team capable of competing for the biggest trophies, Liverpool will need to expand their arsenal, a process which has already begun with the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister.

The midfield is the main area of interest, especially now that we said goodbye to three players in this position this summer and many names have been mentioned as possible targets for Jürgen Klopp.

Below we’ve taken a speculative look at how the Reds might line up before the new Premier League season kicks off in August (based on a 3-2-2-3 formation).

There is no doubt that Alisson Becker will start in goal for the Reds next season having cemented his status as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world.

Unsurprisingly, the Brazilian was voted Liverpool Player of the Season 2022/23 as he was one of the few players to maintain some consistency.
Mickey van de Ven

It remains to be seen what will happen to Liverpool’s line-up for next year, although it is believed Klopp could stick to the system that brought success in the latter stages of last season.

Andy Robertson could continue playing as a left centre-back, although the Reds could use more options in that department.

Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven has been linked with a move to Anfield and could assess his chances of a strong bond with compatriot Virgil van Dijk. His Bundesliga club have secured €30m (£26m).

Liverpool’s strongest and most consistent defender, although some doubted his abilities last season. Van Dijk will continue to be a key figure for the club in the 2023/24 season and should be helped to return to the heights reached during the remarkable four-time challenge.
Ibrahima Konate

The Frenchman has gradually become a key player for Klopp after being brought to Anfield two years ago. Konate, Van Dijk’s long-term successor, is learning from the best in the business but still has a long way to go to reach the Reds’ No.4 tier.

Khephren Thuram

Thuram, a player of interest for Liverpool, is currently playing for France in the European Under-21 Championship alongside Manu Kone – another person closely linked with a move to Anfield. Nice are reportedly asking £35million for the 22-year-old, who would bring much-needed physical skills to the midfield. Trent Alexander Arnold

Superb in his reversed full-back role in recent months, it would be a big surprise if Klopp abandons this approach. The West Derby born star will occasionally be able to count on coverage from the likes of Konate and Van Dijk, although it’s worth the risk due to his unrivaled attacking prowess.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool are interested in the 22-year-old Hungarian, who has shown just how dangerous he can be during his two-year tenure at RB Leipzig. The imposing midfielder is no stranger to scoring goals from distance and has also shown just how good he is in game situations. It is clear that Szoboszlai has a £60million escape clause, due to expire on 30 June. Alexis MacAllister

The Argentina international is all but guaranteed to be in the Reds’ starting XI for Premier League games after his £35million arrival, providing an immediate upgrade to the players Klopp currently has. Mac Allister’s versatility makes him an undeniable asset, although the left midfield role played by Curtis Jones last season seems a natural fit.

Luis Diaz

With so many out through injury, Liverpool will be hoping the Colombian winger can stay fit throughout next year. Diaz’s speed and dribbling make him a nightmare for defenders and it feels like the former Porto man has yet to bring out the best.
Cody Gakpo

Gakpo has made a smooth transition into life at Liverpool after leaving PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window and will look to maintain his impressive start, albeit at the expense of Darwin Nunez. Nunez still has a way to justify leading the Reds line on a weekly basis, which should hold Gakpo accountable, at least for now.
Mohammad Salah

The Egyptian striker’s 46 contributions in all competitions in the 2022/23 season make him an unbeatable member of this squad. Salah has shone at the club year after year and will be the decisive factor on the right side of the attack as Liverpool seek a title shot

June 29, 2023
Liverpool has completed its “other” big renovation, but the most difficult challenge still lies ahead.

Liverpool may be on the verge of another major transformation, but the club are already quietly overseeing a succession plan, writes Andy Ramsay.
And then there was one.

Last summer, Sadio Mané joined FC Bayern Munich. This summer, it will be Roberto Firmino who will live the last years of his career at another club.

As Liverpool fans bid farewell to the brilliant Brazilian, only the irrepressible Mohamed Salah remains from their legendary top three.

At the peak of their combined powers, there was arguably no attacking trio in the entire history of European football or the Premier League that could rival them. In five seasons (2017/18 to 2021/2022) he scored a total of 338 goals and 139 assists, in a period in which Liverpool played 282 competitive matches.

Jürgen Klopp’s firepower has helped the club win five major trophies: the Champions League (2019), UEFA Super Cup (2020), Premier League (2020), Carabao Cup (2022) and FA Cup (2022 )

For example, the 2018 Champions League final lost to Real Madrid, the first year that the famous top three all played together.
En route to that year’s final, the trio scored a total of 30 goals – a league record!

For context, that’s more than Real Madrid’s famous front three of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo record 28 goals and the 27 goals scored by Barcelona’s legendary goalscorer Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Replacing the trio would therefore never have been easy.

Finding value in the transfer market

After a turbulent season on and off the pitch for the Reds, it feels like the club will need to invest heavily this summer if they are to recapture their previous successes.

Fans have rightly criticized the owners, and in some cases the manager, for not investing in an aging and injury-prone midfielder last summer.

So far, Liverpool’s recruitment under Klopp has been nearly flawless, as can only be expected in the uncertain world of football transfers.
Firmino (£29m), Mane (£30m) and Salah (£36.9m), for example, cost the club £95.9m in transfer fees.

In the mad vacuum of the football economy, this can only be described as incredible business. At their peak, their transfer value has risen astronomically, with Firmino (£90m), Mane (£150m) and Salah (£150m) expected to cost around £390m, per Transfermarkt.

This would represent a 306.7% increase in value over the Reds’ initial investment.
For last summer, Klopp and the Liverpool recruiting team were heralded as the standard-bearer in the transfer market for good reason.

They have become masters of spotting talent, fitting into the mold of the manager’s energetic press, who then scoffed at their transfer fee.

The transfer fee, usually between £30m and £50m; players signed, mostly in the 23-24 age group. It is a brain-based approach with two main characteristics: 1) enough data to draw useful conclusions about each transmission target; and 2) sufficient growth for talent to exceed market expectations under the guidance of a world-class coach.

lose sight of the ball

That’s what makes last summer’s neglect of midfield reinforcements so frustrating.
The club were in a strong position on the pitch and wise investments in the middle of the park could have given momentum.
In fact, the exit could have been prevented last season.

It’s hard to understand how a club widely regarded as one of the best-run clubs in Europe can go wrong.

Did the owners lose focus and instead invest their time in the eventual sale of the club? Was the loss of key personnel to blame? Mike Gordon’s short-term resignation to face a potential sale and Michael Edwards’ retirement and career hiatus from football undoubtedly caused a stir.

What about human error? After coming so close to winning an unprecedented treble in the 2021/2022 season, it may have been miscalculated that midfield reinforcements could wait.

The truth is that it’s probably a combination of all of these factors, among others. While the recklessness in midfield has been rightly criticized in recent months, the transfer model has largely been successful.

It was the transfer inactivity in midfield that let the team down last season, not the buying of unsuccessful players.

The other players signed in the past three years have all been largely successful and show future planning: Diogo Jota (26), Luis Diaz (26), Ibrahima Konate (23), Darwin Nunez (23) and Cody Gakpo (24) are all looking forward to it. to a bright future with the Reds.

With all the talk of a big summer transfer window for Liverpool, there is almost no evidence of any striker being linked with a move to Merseyside.

Most of the work required in this area has been completed in the past two years. Mane’s replacement

lose sight of the ball

That’s what makes last summer’s neglect of midfield reinforcements so frustrating.

The club were in a strong position on the pitch and wise investments in the middle of the park could have given momentum.
In fact, the exit could have been prevented last season.

It’s hard to understand how a club widely regarded as one of the best-run clubs in Europe can go wrong.

Did the owners lose focus and instead invest their time in the eventual sale of the club? Was the loss of key personnel to blame? Mike Gordon’s short-term resignation to face a potential sale and Michael Edwards’ retirement and career hiatus from football undoubtedly caused a stir.

What about human error? After coming so close to winning an unprecedented treble in the 2021/2022 season, it may have been miscalculated that midfield reinforcements could wait.

The truth is that it’s probably a combination of all of these factors, among others. While the recklessness in midfield has been rightly criticized in recent months, the transfer model has largely been successful.

It was the transfer inactivity in midfield that let the team down last season, not the buying of unsuccessful players.

The other players signed in the past three years have all been largely successful and show future planning: Diogo Jota (26), Luis Diaz (26), Ibrahima Konate (23), Darwin Nunez (23) and Cody Gakpo (24) are all looking forward to it. to a bright future with the Reds.

With all the talk of a big summer transfer window for Liverpool, there is almost no evidence of any striker being linked with a move to Merseyside.
Most of the work required in this area has been completed in the past two years.

Mane’s replacement

The Senegal international’s influence on Liverpool’s recent triumphs has been huge.
His aggressive and direct play, tough physique and lack of dramatic personality made him a dream player for Klopp.

But it wasn’t always clear. Following Mane’s signing, the German tactician admitted he missed the chance to sign the player while coaching Dortmund, although a misjudgment of his attitude appears to be the reason:

“I made a few mistakes in my life and one of my biggest mistakes was not taking Sadio when I was at Dortmund.
“We were together in an office and I spoke to him. In hindsight I wasn’t sure, but it really was my fault!

“He’s an excellent guy and life has given me a second chance to work with him and hopefully we can take both.”

The rest, they say, is history.
After signing for Southampton in the 2016 summer transfer window, Mane made 259 appearances for the Reds, scoring 120 goals and providing 48 assists for his teammates.

This equated to a goal contribution in 64.8% of his appearances whilst playing for the club.

In his prime, Mane was one of the best forwards in the game. His contributions to his goals, complemented by his physicality and direct style of play, made him a nightmare to play against. Not an easy man to replace!

However, his replacement was introduced six months before his departure and made an immediate impact.

Diaz signed for £37m from Porto and emulated a lot of what was great about Mané: he was quick, direct and courageous on the ball.

Diaz also possesses a modest and undemanding personality, much like the Senegalese international.

But a statistical analysis of the two actors shows that while they share a lot in common, they also have different strengths and weaknesses compared to each other.

To make the comparison fair, Mane’s stats here are from the 2017/2018 season, when he was of the same developmental age and playing under Klopp’s style of football at Liverpool.

Diaz’s stats are only from the 2021/22 season as last season was heavily plagued with injuries and trying to get fit for next season.

In terms of possession and passing, the Colombian tops most key metrics used to judge a winger (stats via FBref):

However, comparing the two based on the raw data on goals, assists and quality of attacking performance, Mane is way off the mark:

Time will tell if Diaz can match in terms of goals and assists.
Stats suggest Mane was better at spotting good chances and knowing where the biggest attacking threats were during a game. Diaz, on the other hand, seems to have better ball retention and dribbling skills.

However, these stats come from Diaz’s first six months at the club as he acclimatised to the Premier League and Klopp’s system.

Next season, the Colombian will be a first-team regular after a frustrating knee injury cut short his first full term and we should have a better idea of his role and impact in the side.

Klopp could guide Diaz to become more active in key areas and focus on quality rather than quantity.

For example, Diaz has more shots (3.57-2.88), shots on target (1.22-1.07) and passes that result in shots (3.85-3.25) than Mane. ; however, Mane has higher xG (0.44-0.34), shooting accuracy (37.1%-34.2%), and targeted actions (0.58-0.38).

When the famous front three were at their best, Salah was usually the most prolific in terms of goals and assists, followed by Mane and then Firmino.

However, all three were regularly summoned throughout the season. If Liverpool are to challenge for major titles again, the burden will have to be shared between the strikers, whether Diaz, Gakpo, Jota or Nunez – or the squad as a whole.

A lack of energy in midfield and a weak defense were a key factor in Liverpool’s poor form last season in the league, but attacking performance was also down from the previous season when the Reds were at their worst. best and were fighting for the title.

The number of goals scored went from 94 to 75, the number of shots from 729 to 605 and the number of shots on target from 256 to 212.

Firmino’s replacement

Similar to Mane and Diaz’s changing of the guard, Firmino’s replacement was brought in six months in advance.
His name: Cody Gakpo.

It’s hard to define Firmino’s role at Liverpool over the years and the man Gakpo is set to replace – the brilliant Brazilian has played the bad nine like no other.

After Liverpool’s famous 5-0 victory over Man United at Old Trafford in 2021/22, Klopp underlined this point:

“Mo gets a lot of attention and deservedly so, but Bobby, for people who know football, I’m pretty sure by the time he’s finished playing people will be writing books about how he interpreted the wrong nine positions.”

“I’m not saying he made it up, or that we made it up, but with the way he plays it feels like it from time to time.”

It’s his blend of technical prowess, selfless defense, keen awareness, creativity and goal threat that has made him a fan favourite. Indeed, while praising the Brazilian, Klopp explained his unique and multifunctional role in his tactical system:

“He IS a connector; the best offensive defender I’ve ever seen in my life.
“He is a ball chaser, incredibly tactically intelligent and capable of playing in the tightest spaces; to make good decisions in a very short time.

“Also, he can score goals, which is why we are so happy when he rewards himself once in a while.”

Comparing Firmino and Gakpo is more difficult to do.

Firmino had plenty of experience playing the false nine in 2017/18. He has played there since Klopp’s arrival in 2015, playing in a fully functioning and well-proven Liverpool team at the time. He recorded his best individual season: 27 goals and 14 assists

Furthermore, although Gakpo had a strong individual season, he was used more on the flanks for PSV Eindhoven before joining Liverpool in January.

He was also tasked with learning the unknown position of the false nine in a dysfunctional Liverpool side that lacked confidence and had an aging midfield.
Given the context of these two seasons, there is reason to celebrate the central role of Gakpo.

And it seems that was the plan when he signed the Dutch international.
Prominent Dutch manager and football presenter Hans Kraay reported just before the Reds signed his man that Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders saw his compatriot as a ‘missing link’.

In fact, just like Firmino, his role in the team will often be to dig deep into midfield and control play.

We don’t talk about it anymore, but when Klopp first used Firmino centrally, much of the media felt that Liverpool should sign a traditional No.9.

The Brazilian was then considered an attacking midfielder and often played on the touchline; He was therefore not a centre-forward.

But Klopp’s vision was to have a conductor with the spatial awareness, tactical acumen and technical skills to link the game together so that Mane and Salah’s direct playing styles could thrive. With the famous top three established, the calls for a traditional number 9 quickly died out.
When it comes to attack performance, there’s not too much in between

As Klopp alluded to, it’s Firmino’s selfless attitude and defensive acumen that has made him such a unique asset:

Firmino is ahead on key defensive metrics, but against the backdrop of this statistical comparison, Gakpo’s numbers are still very impressive.

For example, compared to other players in the same position last year, Gakpo scores as an elite defensive forward on these metrics.

Over 99% of the population for tackles, 98% for tackles won, 99% for dribbles tackled and 99% for combined tackles and interceptions

Find an heir to the Egyptian king

Statistics suggest Liverpool have done their homework, with Mane and Firmino’s replacements well placed to forge their own history at the club.

As Diaz and Gakpo haven’t quite settled down yet, with an unfortunate injury to the former and the latter ending up with a dysfunctional team, both have been impressed enough to suggest they are two-thirds of the legendary three up front can replicate and perhaps even surpass them.

However, the last one left, Salah, will be the hardest to replace.
Thankfully, even at 31, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

He possesses not only the offensive attributes of the elite, but also the mental attributes of the elite of the greatest players; Klopp doesn’t have to think long to get the best out of him, because he already does it himself.

You have the feeling with Salah that falling records will only motivate him even more to achieve the next goal

In just six seasons, the African superstar has already scored the most goals for Liverpool in the Premier League era, recently surpassing Robbie Fowler’s record of 128.

Considering the Toxteth-born poacher is considered to be one of the most talented finishers of all time at the club, it underlines Salah’s genius already surpassing him.

He achieved this by playing as a winger who also possesses top-notch creative qualities and provided a slew of chances and goals for his teammates during his time at Liverpool.

The No.11 is already one of Liverpool’s top five goalscorers of all time and has already achieved legendary status.
How far he climbs up the list will depend on how long he stays at the club.

With two years left on his contract, it is possible to suggest he could reach top three status; perhaps even in the top two if he extended his stay beyond two years.
Ian Rush’s record is unlikely to be broken; at his current rate of 0.62 goals per game, Salah would need to play another 260 games, just over five more seasons in which he scored at the same rate.

When the time comes to find an heir for the Egyptian king, this will give the scouts and the transfer committee the most difficult task.
But in their work to oversee both Mane’s and Firmino’s successors, there is every hint that they are capable of doing so.

June 23, 2023