The Official Liverpool Thread - Part 2

[Philby]

Gakpo is an enigma. He actually had a really good season last season and scored some important goals. He continues to scores goals but he also misses a lot of big chances and wastes a lot of attacks by cutting in and shooting constantly. I can see why he’s picked but I don’t know if there’s a future in him based on what we are seeing overall.

Agree. He's a bit too linear & predictable for that role.

I think his contract was extended in part to retain this value and in part due to the high turnover up front over the summer.

Whether Slot stays or goes I'd wager that Gakpo isn't a first XI starter next season.

Saw a few clips of counter attacks that went blunt on Saturday and I think a big issue now is that there’s very little attacking presence ahead of the ball because Slot is picking so many centre mids. Everyone is running towards the ball and not getting into scoring zones.

To some degree that's likely to persist to some degree until Isak is back fit.

The quality of football was actually excellent for an hour against Burnley. But if you don't put away your chances you're always vulnerable.

Slot found way to arrest the run of defeats and save his job for the time being but that way has meant we have been cautious and blunt against some very poor/average sides and not picked up as many points as we should have been by a long shot.

Agree. To a degree variance has kicked in at an unfortunate time. Across the 4 recent draws the xG count is 7.21 "for" vs. 2.02 "against".

It wouldn't have been outrageous outcome by any means if Liverpool had 3 wins (Leeds, Fulham, Burnley) alongside a draw / strong performance against Arsenal (...imho neither side did enough to win it) - which would've seen Liverpool just a point behind City.

The more conservative style hasn't really blunted the chance creation to a degree that it's become a problem. But lack of ruthlessness in recent games has cost them.

 

[nelly sham]

Gakpo is an enigma. He actually had a really good season last season and scored some important goals. He continues to scores goals but he also misses a lot of big chances and wastes a lot of attacks by cutting in and shooting constantly. I can see why he’s picked but I don’t know if there’s a future in him based on what we are seeing overall.

Saw a few clips of counter attacks that went blunt on Saturday and I think a big issue now is that there’s very little attacking presence ahead of the ball because Slot is picking so many centre mids. Everyone is running towards the ball and not getting into scoring zones.

Slot found way to arrest the run of defeats and save his job for the time being but that way has meant we have been cautious and blunt against some very poor/average sides and not picked up as many points as we should have been by a long shot.

If he even used the Kerkez overlap a handful of times he'd probably find he has a bit more space when he does cut back in.

There was one game, maybe the Arsenal one where Kerkez stayed parallel to him even though there was tons of space to run into. I was thinking this would be the one time he plays the ball and there's no one there. But nope, didn't even look again.


And yeah, misses ALOT of chances.

 

[The Duke]

Cody Gakpo on 250k a week and he only uses one leg!

Mental stuff. How the fuck they sold Diaz and not Gakpo..They should have bumped Diaz up to Gakpo salary and sold him not Diaz. One of the few major mis-steps by Hughes / Edwards.

 

[Philby]

I suspect it was a decision based more on finances than on-field impact.

Diaz is ~2.5 years older than Gakpo and was on ~55k a week compared to Gakpo's 120k.

Committing an extra 195k a week (for 4 years) on a guy about to turn 29 vs committing an extra 130k a week for a guy who just turned 26 was probably a big part of the decision.

Plus re-sale value. Even as he signed his extension I bet the club were thinking more in terms of Gakpo being moved on for a solid fee within 2 years than him seeing out his contract.

But no denying that on the field Liverpool would've been better off with Diaz than Gakpo. That's something there would've been broad agreement on pre-season...and absolutely zero doubt about mid-way through the season.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

I can remember Shaw constantly making the same runs for rashford and being constantly ignored too, almost to the point where he stopped making the runs.

For all the skill some of these elite players have (I mean anyone who plays EPL football as elite) they lack good decision making.

 

[Philby]

I can remember Shaw constantly making the same runs for rashford and being constantly ignored too, almost to the point where he stopped making the runs.

For all the skill some of these elite players have (I mean anyone who plays EPL football as elite) they lack good decision making.

Rashers + Gakpo have a lot of sylistic similarities. Both are a bit predictable in the runs they make on & off the ball. Too linear. They don't introduce enough doubt into defenders' minds.

 

[wat_boy]

If he even used the Kerkez overlap a handful of times he'd probably find he has a bit more space when he does cut back in.

There was one game, maybe the Arsenal one where Kerkez stayed parallel to him even though there was tons of space to run into. I was thinking this would be the one time he plays the ball and there's no one there. But nope, didn't even look again.


And yeah, misses ALOT of chances.

My missus isnt really into football but she came to the game with me on Saturday and she noticed it, she asked me if they even talk to each other

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

My missus isnt really into football but she came to the game with me on Saturday and she noticed it, she asked me if they even talk to each other

Your missus?????? You brought your missus....

Sorry, I thought I was Roy Keane for a few seconds there.

Medical help is being sought.

My sincere apologies

 

[Shabby]

I can remember Shaw constantly making the same runs for rashford and being constantly ignored too, almost to the point where he stopped making the runs.

For all the skill some of these elite players have (I mean anyone who plays EPL football as elite) they lack good decision making.

It’s probably an ego thing as much as anything, believing them shooting is always the best option despite the rare outcome of a goal. It has hampered Kerkez’s attacking output as a result.

The bother for Slot is that Gakpo does score some important goals, mainly from being in the right place at the right time and bumbling the ball into the net. He’s always among the chances too. Coaches do like that sort of instinct.

 

[Jim Comic]

Alisson,

Kerkez, Gomez, Van Dijk, Frimpong,

Gravenberch

Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister,

Salah, Ekitike,

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.