02 Mar 2024 16:46:20
Hi eds1
What’s you view on Gakpo. Strengths, weaknesses and has he improved at all in his time at Liverpool?

{Ed001's Note - he is tall, strong, works hard (was winning the ball back for us on the edge of our area at one point having chased back to help), good movement when out wide, deceptively quick, good understanding of the press, intelligent, keeps going even when things are not going well for him and can play multiple positions. Oh and great attitude and strikes the ball well (usually).

He struggles in the centre to make much of an impression unless the team is playing well, but he is not really a centre forward so that is unsurprising. Despite his height he is not the best in the air. While he is deceptively quick, he does not have blistering pace to gain a half yard easily. can play multiple positions, which means he is shunted around everywhere, even during matches, and rarely gets to play in his best position coming in off the left wing.

It is hard to say whether he has improved or not because of what he is. Gakpo is a student of the game who studies hard and works hard to be better for the team, more so than how to be a better individual player. With the team being so disjointed and mixed up, the things that he has worked on, such as the press and how to perform his role in it, are not working as a unit. He has clearly increased his physicality to match the Premier League, but everytime he makes a challenge it seems to get called a foul, even though most of the time it is more of a dive from the opposition player. He also worked hard on understanding how to fit into midfield, as he was being used there a lot, but has not been used in there much lately due to injuries up front. So it is hard to judge if he has improved. He is not really being given a settled run in place to get going and show what he can do.}

1.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 06:56:32
I hope he gets time to play on the left, so we get to see what he can do.

2.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 07:55:25
Also Ed01 if I may, I've seen a lot of slander coming Gakpo's way of late which is weird to me cos the guy has been playing near or full 90's for the past 4 games (in 11 days, btw) which regardless of how good he is (and like you say, he is a brilliant footballer with great intelligence), is just looks tired and knackered hence, his decision-making is off cos he is also mentally tired.

I think he is a very good player who is very coachable and can be a really great player for us cos his technical ability is not in question. Right now, I just think he is a bit knackered and would not be playing as much now had we had even half the injuries we have now. Him plHopefully he can get some rest to recharge cos he clearly needs it, IMO.

3.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 09:12:08
Gakpo has more goals and assists than Luis Diaz has this season and in less minutes. Why are we not talking about Diaz then?‍♂️. The fact is that they are all good players and the strongest 5 forwards we have had in decades. It doesn’t concern me whoever plays like it did years gone by when we used to see Ngog coming off the bench (for example) . Klopp has done and amazing job assembling this forward line. Sometimes a player doesn’t have the greatest of games, that happens to any player tho.

4.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 09:12:08
Thanks for this Ed!

Admittedly I have been disappointed in Gakpo over this tough run the past few weeks, but I still have hopes he can be a valuable squad player. I worried in the summer he would be victim to moving around too much, striker, winger, midfielder. his versatility is great to have in the squad but doesn't give him much chance for a run of games in one position unfortunately.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. I do fear for him. Being versatile gets him games but it is not easy to swap around like that constantly until you are more experienced.}

5.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 10:14:52
I agree with a lot Ed001’s evaluation of Gakpo, particularly his intelligence, movement and attitude, but less so regarding on-ball attributes. He is 6’3 but too often plays like he’s 3’6, gets forced off the ball by much less powerful opponents, gives away too many silly free kicks, and though his shooting is quite accurate it often lacks power or goes straight at the keeper.
Irish - Diaz, on the other hand, though not as versatile as Gakpo, proves himself useful in whatever way he can. He never hides, has amazing technical ability and shows a level of drive and determination I just don’t see from Gakpo. Diaz has similar shooting issues to Gakpo in that his shots are either powerful and wide or tame and straight at the keeper.
I don’t want to criticize any players because the team has been incredible this season, but Gakpo is a player I feel needs to improve.

6.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 10:21:34
I said to my mates during the Southampton game that Gakpo is a victim of being able to play so many positions, isn't get a decent run in one particular position, so must be really difficult to get a rhythm going.

He's a great player, seems like a good lad, and I'm sure he's pretty settled now. Happy to have him, he's like the attacking Joe Gomez, and we all love Joe!

{Ed025's Note - its just opinions RP, my opinion is that he is very average mate but im sure some of you will deem him world class..

7.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 10:36:25
Fully agree, Ed. His versatility is a hinderance to him (even tho, he has 12 goals in all comps., I think) BUT Klopp does not see it that way clearly cos w/ o his versatility right now, we would really struggle, IMO. Gakpo is a hardworker, does what he is told/ asked without sulking and plays for the shirt and for his team, a very unselfish trait that Bobbie was known and lauded for, btw. That's all one can ask for under these circumstances till things get better for the team and for him, IMO.

8.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 10:49:33
He’s too slow for a Klopp front 3.

Might suit the next manager more.

9.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 12:52:25
To slow but has scored more goals per minute than the speedy Diaz?. That makes sense ?.

10.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 13:26:27
LFC08 sory, none of that is true. You prolly want to go watch the Luton and S'hampton game where he was running away from his markers (vs Luton) and and carried the ball for 70 yards from our final third to their final third leaving two players in his wake (one had to NFL-tackle him and failed) .

Gakpo is very quick hence, why he was so good playing out wide and killing it for PSV before we signed him. Quickness and acceleration (esp. with the ball at his feet) is what Gakpo does in addition to his great technical ability on the ball and game intelligence, IMO.

11.) 03 Mar 2024
03 Mar 2024 14:11:19
I really like the lad because I think he's got so much potential. Sure I have to be honest he does frustrate me at times but no, I think we've got a good player in this lad, he just needs to continue playing.