Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher shared his concerns about the form of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher highlighted the poor form of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo as a concern for Liverpool. Liverpool played Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the top-of-the-table Premier League showdown on Saturday.
Gakpo has suffered from inconsistency this season with many experts questioning his most suitable position under Jurgen Klopp’s setup. The Dutch forward has an ample amount of quality and versatility but he tends to disappear in games. Gakpo performed poorly against Arsenal before his substitution in the 68th minute.
Meanwhile, Diaz has struggled to regain his best form since returning from his last season’s knee injury. The Colombian forward has faced a lot of ordeals in his personal life when with his parent’s kidnapping.
Against Arsenal, the 26-year-old experienced another potential knee injury, forcing his substitution in the 68th minute. The Kopites are sympathetic to the tough period for their Colombian winger with concern over his mental health.
Diaz’s father mentioned a move to Barcelona in a recent interview after safely returning home from the kidnapping ordeal. We wonder if it is just a subtle hint of the player’s desire to shift to a Spanish-speaking nation.
Carragher told the Gary Neville Podcast (h/t Sky Sports) that there is a problem in Liverpool’s attack department. He said:
“Looking at Liverpool’s front three, there’s something not right about it. [Cody] Gakpo has been here for nearly 12 months and he’s had flashes but nowhere near enough. [Luis] Diaz looks a shadow of himself after his knee injuries last season. I really feel that Diaz needs to have a good second half of the season otherwise Liverpool will be going into the market in the summer on the left-hand side. It just feels that with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino going, they haven’t replaced them in terms of quality.”
Whenever available, Klopp has chosen to deploy Diaz on the left wing, despite the Colombian’s poor run of form. While Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and the currently injured Diogo Jota thrived with good linkup and overall contribution, Diaz struggled.
The 26-year-old looks like an individual trying too much in a team game, always looking to dribble rather than pass. In all competitions so far, he has managed to contribute just five goals and an assist, frequently experiencing dispossessions.
On the other hand, Gakpo has scored seven goals and provided two assists from 23 games in all competitions. The Dutchman has only completed 90 minutes in two Europa League games so far this season.
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Carragher is correct that they have not shown the level in which Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino operated for Liverpool. Gakpo is a good part of the squad and provides something different to the team with his all-round contributions. However, Diaz’s struggles are hampering the Reds as they currently lack players capable of giving flair from the wide-attacking area.
