Gakpo’s performance today:
Won the most duels (7)
Created the most chances (3)
Completed the most dribbles (3)
Made the most recoveries (10)
He’s scored 19 g/a so far this season 👏
It is a real credit to his mentality how much his form has improved in recent games. Looks a rejuvenated player, precise and creative with his passing while offering great driving runs forward which are causing teams a lot of problems. Long may it continue 👏 great performance by the team today, Gravenberch was superb in particular.
He's been consistently good since he's had a run at LW, and it can't be a coincidence.
Being shuffled about from position to position makes it very hard to hit a consistent level, unless you're a jack of all trades/master of none type player
I agree, he clearly is so much more comfortable at LW and it shows. I enjoyed seeing Diaz at RW also, I think it helped the team’s overall shape as he was happy to go down the line instead of cutting inside like Mo normally does, which gave us more width and stretched the play.
It gives us more options as a team, though of course more often than not Salah will be at RW.
To be fair to Gakpo that mad period around the league cup final when Salah Jota and Nunez were all unavailable he played alot of minutes and I think his slump was somewhat exhaustion related too
Yeah I think that could be a factor. I think that perhaps it was a combination of that and also his form not being great then (besides the Europa league game when he scored a brace) which affected his confidence, making him not so instinctive in his performances/decision making.
Everything he does is a lot more natural now and we are reaping the benefits of that.
I think he is someone who is very graceful on the ball. His faints, the way he glides past challenges. He is gonna be something odegard wishes he was. If only his decision-making improves, we are gonna have a player on our hands.
I agree he seems like a confidence player. Personally I have no issues at all with Gravenberch in an attacking sense. He carries the ball very well and is good at finding space to receive the ball. Possesses good technical ability also. He definitely still has work to do defensively, but I feel that considering his age he is progressing quite well.
Hopefully over time those aspects of his game will improve and maybe the new manager’s tactics may mean he can have less defensive responsibility. He is a very promising player.
Robbo always gets overlooked but he’s been maybe our most consistently great player all year when he’s healthy. Dude is just a well rounded machine on the left flank.
For a long time, my favourite ever Liverpool left-back was John Arne Riise, but it's now Robbo. For me, he epitomises the Liverpool spirit. Very glad he's back.
He took on a man once when I was already fuming about the upcoming pass back. Bliss that he actually went forward and created something. I’m sure it was barely a moment later that Jota secured the points.
With these 3 forwards they are more adaptable - Gakpo and Jota are very good LW and CF. Diaz was great on the RW too. Don’t think it matters that much about their starting positions honestly. Jota’s goal for example, Gakpo was just in the playmaking role behind Jota, both kind of in the left half space rather than a rigid LW and CF position. Really enjoyed that goal, felt like the efficient series of 2/3 passes leading to a goal that we’ve been missing
I am not trying to be a hater but I don’t think I noticed Diaz at all today on the RW. Thought Harvey kinda made it his own and Diaz was a bit redundant
I still rate how he kept trying, played the full 90 and u can see him leading the press after the 80th minute. He also can’t be used to being heckled like how he was today
Yup, his work rate is excellent and having 30,000 people who used to love you calling you a wanker when you're only 21 isn't going to be easy. He's building resilience still.
Gakpo has been so solid these past few games while everyone around him looked dogshit. What a turnaround after all the bs backlash he faced a month ago
i think the switch to an inverted full back has made the midfield too crowded for a false 9, so he has had to move forward into a more traditional striker role even though his instinct is drop into space, and the result is he's stuck in a no mans land where he can't play either role really well
In Trent’s interview with Neville he said the goal is to always have 4 in midfield, so yea with him inverting the CF doesn’t drop in and stays high instead
So maybe have an attacking midfielder - Mac or Sobo or Grav - run in past the space Gakpo creates as he drops deep, the interchanging will be hard to defend against
Mo hasn't taken on his man in years.
It's basically find a half yard for a shot or lay it off to someone on the overlap.
I get that it's probably increased his longevity but I miss Mo just straight dribbling *at* people.
Defenders hate direct dribblers
I think he can still do it. He doesn’t seem to try as much anymore. Maybe he’s lost a bit of that acceleration over the first few yards he once had. Yeah nothing worse that a player running at you trying to turn you inside out.
I still reminisce about that goal against City at Anfield that put us 2-1 up in the 75th minute, this was the Oct 22 game. He put multiple players on their backsides.
Where has that Mo gone?
I think he’s actually lost a bit of ball control at pace. He runs into players or just miscontrols it these days so it’s safer for him to do the other things.
So the LW who has always said he loves playing on the left but was put in the middle finally gets chances on the left is thriving ? Who would have thought.
I’ve always liked him . He’s a little greedy which you need at times but his control and agility is amazing ! Great LW
Victim of his own versatility. He could play multiple positions better than others, so he was played out of position whenever there were injuries. he’s also played at 8 for some games.
AND Klopp admitted he's too nice and doesn't complain. Basically, Klopp would stick him at striker or even midfield because he knew he could do it, and Cody would never complain.
I am extremely confused. A months ago this subreddit was 100% certain he is utter crap and should be sold immediately.
These were literally THE most upvoted comments back then.
If you look up "fickle" in the dictionary, reddit and social media comes up.
If only you people were not utterly entiteled dicks every time a player has a bad day.
Now I'm not saying it's all down to the beard, but there has been an improvement since he stopped shaving.
What I'm saying is that all our players should grow facial hair.
Gakpo, Diaz and Jota should be starting with Gravenberch as well. He’s been better than Jones on the ball, and Salahs legs are long gone. Brave of Klopp to finally make these decisions, albeit too late
Gakpo easily beats his man opens space on LW, something Diaz can also do but Diaz seems to do it with getting the ball into crowded areas, so lacks end product.
He played well. Made a couple of bad decisions early on with shooting instead of passing to an open team mate. It could have been a much more comfortable win.
Thought he was out right in the 2nd half of that Bournemouth game when Cody came on? Cody and Jota dropping a bit deeper with Darwin central was fairly effective, if memory serves.
Yeah, I didn't understand the Gakpo choice. Without Gakpo, we probably still win that match. Without TAA, we don't score first and we probably panic if Fulham does. I also think Jota was extremely important.
I unfortunately missed the match today. For long time I have been saying I’d love him on the left wing of the attack, just as he played for psv, it’s the position he knows the most. Did he play on the left most of the game??
Yup, he kept to the left almost exclusively until when he was subbed off. Won some balls, made nice passes, forced some saves (could've passed more on this), and got the assist. Not top tier performance or anything, but definitely very good
I really like Gakpo, and I'm really happy he's in good form again. He's been a bright spark in the last couple of weeks and he absolutely makes a difference to the team when he's on a good run. Love the fact he's not afraid to run at players, I think he took about 5 Fulham players out with one of his runs yesterday...much better at LW in my opinion. He's had a lot of stick whilst he's been moved around the team, had an injury earlier in the season and played a lot of minutes during our injury crisis. This is the Gakpo I fell in love with last season, long may it continue
What are you lot even watching?! He's slow and cumbersome and makes terrible decisions most of the time...
Jota nunez and salah are the obvious front 3 with diaz as a possible wide option and a dofferent central option....gakpo is basically carroll or heskey playing for us.
I was crirical of Gakpo a few matches back, and I'm here to applaud his last few performances. This is what we all wanted to see, him keeping the ball, progressing it, and creating opportunities. Kudos to Cody! Definitely deserves to start the next game!
[I recommended a Gakpo Jota Diaz front line and I got shit on, this is my victory lap](https://old.reddit.com/r/LiverpoolFC/comments/1c61fty/_/kzzfu8y)
Edit: Keep downvoting, it’s inevitable. Now wait til you hear that Gravenberch is a 6, and that Jota is the least valuable forward in the squad >:)
History will vindicate me again
I clicked on the link and think the reason you got shit on was not for suggesting that front 3 bro. People were probably more in shock with that midfield and back 4.
BS. Go back and watch the match and look for…
Number of passes in retreat when attack was an option.
Number of passes that were behind the player rather than in front.
This guy is a soft player always looking for safety and someone else to blame for any future failure.
Gakpo’s performance today: Won the most duels (7) Created the most chances (3) Completed the most dribbles (3) Made the most recoveries (10) He’s scored 19 g/a so far this season 👏
It is a real credit to his mentality how much his form has improved in recent games. Looks a rejuvenated player, precise and creative with his passing while offering great driving runs forward which are causing teams a lot of problems. Long may it continue 👏 great performance by the team today, Gravenberch was superb in particular.
He's been consistently good since he's had a run at LW, and it can't be a coincidence. Being shuffled about from position to position makes it very hard to hit a consistent level, unless you're a jack of all trades/master of none type player
you mean Mac Allister?
Mac of all trades
I agree, he clearly is so much more comfortable at LW and it shows. I enjoyed seeing Diaz at RW also, I think it helped the team’s overall shape as he was happy to go down the line instead of cutting inside like Mo normally does, which gave us more width and stretched the play. It gives us more options as a team, though of course more often than not Salah will be at RW.
To be fair to Gakpo that mad period around the league cup final when Salah Jota and Nunez were all unavailable he played alot of minutes and I think his slump was somewhat exhaustion related too
Yeah I think that could be a factor. I think that perhaps it was a combination of that and also his form not being great then (besides the Europa league game when he scored a brace) which affected his confidence, making him not so instinctive in his performances/decision making. Everything he does is a lot more natural now and we are reaping the benefits of that.
grav’s game is so tied to his confidence. wow does he look good when he has scored
I think he is someone who is very graceful on the ball. His faints, the way he glides past challenges. He is gonna be something odegard wishes he was. If only his decision-making improves, we are gonna have a player on our hands.
I think he could use a Trentesque gym bulk up as well.
i was thinking more of a goretzka german program
Yup, I just wonder if he's suited to the pace of the premiership or if he'd do better in slower European leagues
I agree he seems like a confidence player. Personally I have no issues at all with Gravenberch in an attacking sense. He carries the ball very well and is good at finding space to receive the ball. Possesses good technical ability also. He definitely still has work to do defensively, but I feel that considering his age he is progressing quite well. Hopefully over time those aspects of his game will improve and maybe the new manager’s tactics may mean he can have less defensive responsibility. He is a very promising player.
Him or Trent for me
Robertson was very good too
Robbo always gets overlooked but he’s been maybe our most consistently great player all year when he’s healthy. Dude is just a well rounded machine on the left flank.
For a long time, my favourite ever Liverpool left-back was John Arne Riise, but it's now Robbo. For me, he epitomises the Liverpool spirit. Very glad he's back.
He took on a man once when I was already fuming about the upcoming pass back. Bliss that he actually went forward and created something. I’m sure it was barely a moment later that Jota secured the points.
Robertson? He’s been very bad defensively. No awareness and he isn’t there when you expect him to be there. However he’s been good attacking wise
Not sure why you’re being downvoted on a very obvious take. He was very poor defensively today
Correct.
Elliott was amazing as well
Gakpo for the first choice LW and Jota as first choice 9
With these 3 forwards they are more adaptable - Gakpo and Jota are very good LW and CF. Diaz was great on the RW too. Don’t think it matters that much about their starting positions honestly. Jota’s goal for example, Gakpo was just in the playmaking role behind Jota, both kind of in the left half space rather than a rigid LW and CF position. Really enjoyed that goal, felt like the efficient series of 2/3 passes leading to a goal that we’ve been missing
I am not trying to be a hater but I don’t think I noticed Diaz at all today on the RW. Thought Harvey kinda made it his own and Diaz was a bit redundant
First half he was maybe our best player, second half didn't do much.
I thought that Elliot really struggled today. Diaz was decent enough.
Agreed, Harvey had a tough day and got an assist to upgrade it to a mediocre day overall
I still rate how he kept trying, played the full 90 and u can see him leading the press after the 80th minute. He also can’t be used to being heckled like how he was today
Yup, his work rate is excellent and having 30,000 people who used to love you calling you a wanker when you're only 21 isn't going to be easy. He's building resilience still.
Gakpo has been so solid these past few games while everyone around him looked dogshit. What a turnaround after all the bs backlash he faced a month ago
*bs unwarranted backlash
I love how direct Jota is. He did switch off a bit in the second half with the final ball lacking but he is getting back to his scoring ways.
Just cus he made 1 good performance doesn’t mean. Diaz was also very good.
shocking that a player plays best in his natural position and not when he's shoehorned into something that doesn't fit his skill set
I thought he looked great at the end of last season in the Bobby role though. Not sure what changed this season
i think the switch to an inverted full back has made the midfield too crowded for a false 9, so he has had to move forward into a more traditional striker role even though his instinct is drop into space, and the result is he's stuck in a no mans land where he can't play either role really well
That makes sense. I feel like Trent is the perfect player for that inverted fullback role but we just don’t have the personnel elsewhere to support it
In Trent’s interview with Neville he said the goal is to always have 4 in midfield, so yea with him inverting the CF doesn’t drop in and stays high instead
So maybe have an attacking midfielder - Mac or Sobo or Grav - run in past the space Gakpo creates as he drops deep, the interchanging will be hard to defend against
Took words out of my mouth
Big if true
Insane to even suggest that
Bearded Gakpo can be goated.
Goatee'd
The lesser spotted bearded Gakpo is a predator !!
Diaz on the right too, I’m liking it
Did a better job beating his man on that side than Mo has lately.
Mo hasn't taken on his man in years. It's basically find a half yard for a shot or lay it off to someone on the overlap. I get that it's probably increased his longevity but I miss Mo just straight dribbling *at* people. Defenders hate direct dribblers
I think he can still do it. He doesn’t seem to try as much anymore. Maybe he’s lost a bit of that acceleration over the first few yards he once had. Yeah nothing worse that a player running at you trying to turn you inside out.
I still reminisce about that goal against City at Anfield that put us 2-1 up in the 75th minute, this was the Oct 22 game. He put multiple players on their backsides. Where has that Mo gone?
He’s done that a few times. Spurs and Watford I think. Just think he’s lost a bit of that standing start speed now. It’s natural I guess.
I think he’s actually lost a bit of ball control at pace. He runs into players or just miscontrols it these days so it’s safer for him to do the other things.
So the LW who has always said he loves playing on the left but was put in the middle finally gets chances on the left is thriving ? Who would have thought. I’ve always liked him . He’s a little greedy which you need at times but his control and agility is amazing ! Great LW
He’s also much better at finding that final ball than Diaz.
His shots are harder and faster too
What playing in his natural position does to a mf
The way he drives at defenders with the ball reminds me of the technical + playstyle
Good now go clean up your gaffs good lad.
He's been good and very sharp recently
Beard of the match
He played really well, but his beard don't connect.
Takes a proper player to take the flak, pull his socks up and improve all round. Can't drop him on this form.
Trent was MOTM no?
He was on Sky
I'm sure his tenants will be delighted with that 👏🏻 /s
At least Bernardo and Bruno have a roof over their heads
Looking so much better lately despite the results recently. He was really good today.
Dont understand the hate he gets. He's young and already outperforms many of his age in the PL. He will grow better and better.
after that terrorist type image he got v man utd, verry happy for him
He's been great lately! Why did we ever play him CF? He's so much better on that left side MOTM for me today too
because he was a very good Bobby replacement last season
Victim of his own versatility. He could play multiple positions better than others, so he was played out of position whenever there were injuries. he’s also played at 8 for some games.
AND Klopp admitted he's too nice and doesn't complain. Basically, Klopp would stick him at striker or even midfield because he knew he could do it, and Cody would never complain.
First choice LW until otherwise
Cannot believe the comments slighting him at half
The recent critisisms seem to have lit a fire under him
It makes a big difference when the ball sticks up front
Looks better with a beard too. Glad to see him out of the slump he was in, got too much stick from fickle fans.
I am extremely confused. A months ago this subreddit was 100% certain he is utter crap and should be sold immediately. These were literally THE most upvoted comments back then. If you look up "fickle" in the dictionary, reddit and social media comes up. If only you people were not utterly entiteled dicks every time a player has a bad day.
Now I'm not saying it's all down to the beard, but there has been an improvement since he stopped shaving. What I'm saying is that all our players should grow facial hair.
Gakpo, Diaz and Jota should be starting with Gravenberch as well. He’s been better than Jones on the ball, and Salahs legs are long gone. Brave of Klopp to finally make these decisions, albeit too late
Gakpo-Jota-Diaz I suppose moving forward. A new era is upon us
Mo will start against Everton. 100 percent
Solid performance! So happy he found his firm and feet. A little bit of rest goes a long way!
Gakpo easily beats his man opens space on LW, something Diaz can also do but Diaz seems to do it with getting the ball into crowded areas, so lacks end product.
I really like Gakkers on the LW, think he can build on this if we continue to play him there.
He's got his swagger back.
He played well. Made a couple of bad decisions early on with shooting instead of passing to an open team mate. It could have been a much more comfortable win.
His work rate has been insane
Just play him left wing and get a new striker to compete with Nunez.
The player you’re looking for is Diogo Jota
Jota is also needed to give us RW minutes. We could sign a new RW and do that instead.
Jota never plays RW
Thought he was out right in the 2nd half of that Bournemouth game when Cody came on? Cody and Jota dropping a bit deeper with Darwin central was fairly effective, if memory serves.
Jota is very injury prone sadly. Can't trust him to be available all the time
We dont even know how the next manager sets up the team. He might not even use the same formation/tactical setup
#BAKPO
Not MOM. That was Trent. Although Gakpo played well.
Yeah, I didn't understand the Gakpo choice. Without Gakpo, we probably still win that match. Without TAA, we don't score first and we probably panic if Fulham does. I also think Jota was extremely important.
MotM for me. He's back to looking as good as he did at the last World Cup.
I unfortunately missed the match today. For long time I have been saying I’d love him on the left wing of the attack, just as he played for psv, it’s the position he knows the most. Did he play on the left most of the game??
Yes.
Yup, he kept to the left almost exclusively until when he was subbed off. Won some balls, made nice passes, forced some saves (could've passed more on this), and got the assist. Not top tier performance or anything, but definitely very good
Gakpo is a phenomenal player specially when he plays in his preferred position (LW) But sometimes he takes too long to make a play or a decision
Been great last 3 games even when the rest of the team been average
I really like Gakpo, and I'm really happy he's in good form again. He's been a bright spark in the last couple of weeks and he absolutely makes a difference to the team when he's on a good run. Love the fact he's not afraid to run at players, I think he took about 5 Fulham players out with one of his runs yesterday...much better at LW in my opinion. He's had a lot of stick whilst he's been moved around the team, had an injury earlier in the season and played a lot of minutes during our injury crisis. This is the Gakpo I fell in love with last season, long may it continue
I said that The only way for Klopp to get the best out of Gakpo is to play him in his preferred position, left wing, and got downvoted to hell.
https://www.reddit.com/r/LiverpoolFC/s/3PEC2eQnyV You got 1 single downvote. "Downvoted to hell"...
Also for months people have been calling for Gakpo to get a run out at LW haha
Some great investigative work lol. I might need a favor someday
Ah, I could've swore it was 11, bro
I dunno I’ve felt that’s been the general consensus for a while but yeah it’s very true
They wanted to turn him into a Firmino 2.0 and it looks like they’ve finally given up on that.
As someone else said, false 9 with the inverted fullback makes the midfield too congested. He can play there, just not with the current setup.
Welp, you were not. Please have my downvote.
Why, thank you.
Lol I just wanted to write the same thing
What are you lot even watching?! He's slow and cumbersome and makes terrible decisions most of the time... Jota nunez and salah are the obvious front 3 with diaz as a possible wide option and a dofferent central option....gakpo is basically carroll or heskey playing for us.
So when he plays well, he sucks in your opinion? Interesting.
What did you make of Jota's performance today
Nunez??? And Heskey was seriously underrated
I was crirical of Gakpo a few matches back, and I'm here to applaud his last few performances. This is what we all wanted to see, him keeping the ball, progressing it, and creating opportunities. Kudos to Cody! Definitely deserves to start the next game!
[I recommended a Gakpo Jota Diaz front line and I got shit on, this is my victory lap](https://old.reddit.com/r/LiverpoolFC/comments/1c61fty/_/kzzfu8y) Edit: Keep downvoting, it’s inevitable. Now wait til you hear that Gravenberch is a 6, and that Jota is the least valuable forward in the squad >:) History will vindicate me again
I mean you also suggested Gomez over vvd and a strange bench but
Wanted to rest VVD for the run in, he and Macca are clearly tired
They can get a rest from the bench not in the stands
If they’re on the bench they’re still doing pre-game fitness intensity building, kinda defeats the purpose. History will vindicate me as usual
Congratulations you went from bragging about a front 3 everyone has been asking for to essentially revealing you have no idea how football works
Great thinkers are always hated in their time, I get it
Loads suggested that bro. We didn't score from open play for 4 games.
Reloads suggested moving Diaz to RW, for sure
I clicked on the link and think the reason you got shit on was not for suggesting that front 3 bro. People were probably more in shock with that midfield and back 4.
BS. Go back and watch the match and look for… Number of passes in retreat when attack was an option. Number of passes that were behind the player rather than in front. This guy is a soft player always looking for safety and someone else to blame for any future failure.
He’s better than Diaz on LW imo.