Liverpool fans must be wondering where this Cody Gakpo has been for them.
The 25-year-old is having the time of his life at the European Championships after the Netherlands booked their quarter-final ticket on Tuesday.
In the colours of Liverpool, Cody Gakpo has mainly played down the middle, and at times, out on the left for the now-departed Jurgen Klopp.
But for his nation at Euro 2024, he has started every game as a left-sided winger, scoring three goals and supplying one assist.
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That included opening the scoring for the Dutch as they beat Romania 3-0 in their round 16 tie, before he assisted his side’s second goal in the 83rd minute to all but kill off the game.
During the recently concluded Premier League season, Gakpo scored eight goals and supplied five assists, with Liverpool fans underwhelmed by what they saw from their player.
With Arne Slot now in the building, fans will be hoping that their new manager can get the best out of his fellow countryman because he has been one of the best players at this summer’s Euros.
Gary Lineker stated that Gakpo was a ‘stand-out’ performer for his team after he won Man of the Match for his 84 minutes on the pitch against Romania.
The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer Alan Shearer agreed and added by saying that Gakpo was a ‘threat all game’ and simply ‘outstanding’, as he told Match of the Day on BBC One.
Cody Gakpo helps the Netherlands beat Romania at Euro 2024
“Who stood out for you? Gakpo maybe,” said Lineker. “Once Gakpo opened the scoring everything seemed to change. A brilliant performance from him. I thought he was the stand-out player. Got Man of the Match.”
Shearer added: “Good strike (Gakpo’s opening goal). The keeper should do better and the defender should get closer to the shot. But from his point of view, it’s really clever play. His ability to move the ball that quick and move the defender so he can’t sort his legs out and then get his shot away at the near post. He deserves a lot of credit. I thought he was very, very good, Gakpo.
“He was a threat, the whole game – he also got the assist as well. He was outstanding.”
Cody Gakpo under Arne Slot
There has been a lot of talk about Liverpool’s forward line ahead of Slot’s arrival, even though fans would probably think other areas of the pitch need sorting out first.
As HITC revealed, Liverpool made an enquiry over the availability of England and Newcastle United winger, Anthony Gordon.
READ MORE: ‘Special’ teenage midfielder described as ‘star in the making’ amid Liverpool interest
Then there has been talk around Luis Diaz’s future, with the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain discussed – both play on the left channel.
But with Diaz performing like this and Darwin Nunez also having the time of his life at Copa America, then there is no reason to bring any more new faces for that role this summer.
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