“I am baffled”- Liverpool icon left flabbergasted by Reds’ new boy’s performances

Jamie Carragher is baffled by Cody Gakpo and his performances for Liverpool

As per his column in The Telegraph, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher is baffled seeing the performances by Cody Gakpo and claiming that he is not a Jurgen Klopp player.

Liverpool signed Gakpo from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven at the very beginning of the January transfer window for a fee of around £35m. He is yet to score or assist a goal for the Reds in six appearances.

The Dutch international, who had an excellent World Cup before moving to Liverpool, has been used in different positions across the front line in such a short space of time.

Here’s what Carragher wrote about Gakpo’s signing and how he is not a Klopp-type player (h/t The Telegraph):

“In attack, Díaz started his Liverpool career brilliantly but Núñez is a work in progress, and I am baffled watching Gakpo’s early performances. Gakpo is not a typical Klopp signing, lacking lightning pace and the capacity to lead a high press. Why commit up to £45 million on someone who will be on the bench when Díaz and Diogo Jota are fit? Especially when another area of the team needed strengthening?”

While it is true that Gakpo has not shown much since making his debut for Liverpool, it is difficult to judge a new player in a team that has struggled for form, confidence and togetherness on the pitch.

There was a game against Brighton in the FA Cup, where the 23-year-old played as a number nine and did well by dropping deep to link-up play while leaving space for the likes of Mohamed Salah to run into.

If Gakpo is to make a career at Liverpool, that position probably suits him best in Klopp’s system. With how good he is technically and physically, he could be the long-term Roberto Firmino replacement.

There is no point playing him as a winger because of the lack of pace. Once he is deployed as a nine for a few games, then we can judge whether it was money wasted or money well spent. Till then, let’s reserve our thoughts on him.

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• Glen Johnson on Jude Bellingham to Liverpool

The Merseyside derby is upon us. There couldn’t be a better time for Gakpo to score his first Liverpool goal and win the game for the team.