18 Aug 2025 11:05:15
Tell ya what guys Gakpo is not half underrated! He doesn't always look aesthetically pleasing but he bags goals at anfield for fun and is a real threat when his tails up.
18 Aug 2025 11:32:34
Underrated by who? I don't think anyone involved with Liverpool under rates him.
18 Aug 2025 11:59:17
There's not one fan that I know who underates him.
18 Aug 2025 12:00:27
@Ernest Tell that to many of the posters on here who are desperate to drop him so that we can play Ekitike out of position on the left.
18 Aug 2025 12:06:11
Aesthetics can be over rated. Getting the job done is the most important thing.
18 Aug 2025 12:29:02
Amazingly, I am agreeing with you hailstones - I knew this day would come, lol!
Ernest, there are a few regular posters who don't rate him, I have seen comments recently, especially since Diaz has gone.
I also don't get it, as I think he is a very high quality winger, not *quite* as quick as Salah, but still a real handful.
18 Aug 2025 12:46:58
I don't get it neither, Zed and Shipley. Not sure what the guy has to do esp. after the season he had last term to prove his worth. And anyone saying he should be dropped just to play Eke-Techy out on the left is some insane stuff. As for the aesthetics? People need to miss me with that stuff. Absolutely irrelevant.
{Ed025's Note - but don’t you think he flits in and out of games Oli? When on the ball he looks good but does not get involved as much as he should for me mate. It could be that you play a lot down the right hand side of course as Salah is your main outlet but I do think he could be more involved..
18 Aug 2025 12:58:37
Actually a lot of posters on here don't rate him because he isn't nutmegging defenders, skinning fullbacks and doing rabona crosses every game. I'm pretty sure I've seen quite a few people on here say that they'd have preferred if Cody left and not Lucho, and that they'd play Lucho over him any day.
18 Aug 2025 13:10:47
Always rated him highly.
18 Aug 2025 13:18:27
Said it before, Cody > Diaz.
Still think that.
18 Aug 2025 13:29:31
Gakpo has some amazing qualities and he gets goals. So you can’t knock him. I think the issue is though he does not have blistering pace, but loves to take players on. Often he plays the wrong pass, runs into dead ends and gives the ball away far too frequently.
18 Aug 2025 13:13:00
Exactly Ed25, you answered your own question there. Salah gets majority of the play down his side for obv. reasons. which is part of it. Now are there times we over do it a bit? I full think so. There are time where he is wide open and yet we play it to Salah. It is what it is.
IMO, Gakpo does get involved majority of the time we get it to him and is always on his bike when we are in offensive transition. The more looks he gets, I think the better he will play cos he is just so talented. Sometimes, it's just a case of the choices being made by the passers or the way are when we recover the ball and counter. In addition he is defensively involve a lot, just like Mane was. Cheers, man.
18 Aug 2025 14:21:27
IMO because Gakpo isn’t as flashy on the eye, i think this is why many of our fans aren’t his biggest fan. Im not saying people are looking for tricks to keep them entertained, but sometimes a player like Diaz for example was all show no go. However i think it can trick your mind for instance the way Diaz plays into thinking he is having an impact on the game, when majority of the time he was running down blind alleyways.
It’s hard with Gakpo as i feel for me he sometimes just isn’t in a game and he needs to somehow change that outlook on him. Sometimes he can be playing and you won't even notice him and that’s fine if you can be like Mo and nab a goal whilst playing poorly. However i don't think Gakpo has that in his locker, although he did improve last season and maybe just needs another under his belt to show he can improve more.
{Ed025's Note - fair comment that KK..
18 Aug 2025 15:13:38
It happens with all fan bases Ed25 mate. When i seemed to have watched use in the past, i always thought McNeil was very effective at giving himself a yard of space and whipping crosses in from what i seen (i could be wrong) . However it doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing for most! Im sure if Grealish does the same tonight, your lot will be saying he is the best thing since sliced bread.
Any predictions for tonight?
{Ed025's Note - im thinking 1-1 KK, Leeds will come out flying i expect and Jarrad is a big miss for us so it would not be a disaster for any of us mate..
18 Aug 2025 15:29:39
Moving Diaz on certainly had something to do with Gakpo's reliability and performances on the left wing, to a certain extent.
18 Aug 2025 15:48:04
Fully agree, KingKenny1809. Diaz used to run into blind alleys but later to his credit, he improved. He had the tricks and flicks but not as incisive and decisive as Gakpo is.
Gakpo is a baller technically and one of the most effective wide men in the PL when it comes to actually impacting a game. His decision making is very good and so is his work rate. For a guy that big (just as tall as VVD) to be able to be that quick, that good of a dribbler, that effective in the air and a true goal threat is nothing to sneeze at, IMO. True baller and I love him to bits.
The "eye test/ aesthetics" merchants can always go watch Antony, the Manc fidget spinner.
18 Aug 2025 15:55:11
I think Diaz got stuck in more, battled for every ball, probably looked more attacking in his style of play, but I think Gakpo is definitely the better finisher.
18 Aug 2025 15:46:56
It’s unfortunate for use Ed25 it is their first game back in the PL, because as you said they will be bang up for it. Other than that factor i think they are quite poor and abit toothless upfront but im sure the crowd will be thinking they can do what Sunderland done.
I think 2-2 me self personally, a few of my blue mates are on pins over Calvert-Lewin haunting use haha
Is Branthwaites injury long term mate or would be probably be back for the derby?
{Ed025's Note - late September is the forecast KK but that depends on how things go i suppose mate, the nightmare is a headed goal for DCL from a Jack Harrison cross...we are still a couple short unfortunately but never underestimate us my friend as that can well bite you on the arse.. :)