Cody Gakpo: How Liverpool forward developed into crucial figure for Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders | Football News

Cody Jacobo may go into Liverpool’s derby clash with Manchester United thinking about what could have been. A different shade of red, perhaps?

On Boxing Day, the Dutchman celebrated two years since arriving at Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven – although his story would have been very different had Erik ten Hag succeeded in taking him to Manchester United earlier in 2022.

“I think it was the previous summer, I was in contact with the club and spoke to the manager as well, who is obviously Dutch,” he said. Sky Sports At the beginning of 2024.

He added, “But in the end we did not succeed and that is all that mattered. In the winter Liverpool came. The best decision for me.”

Seems like some resolution. As United come into Sunday’s game at Anfield languishing in the bottom half – and with strikers Rasmus Hoglund, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford struggling for form, minutes or even appreciation from the home fans – Jackpo has emerged as a key cog in league leaders Arne Slott’s side.

And although Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s star attacking star this season – there’s absolutely no doubt about that – Slott is also right to ask the question: where would his team be without Jacobo?

Salah may top the scoring and assists list with 37 goal contributions so far this season. Meanwhile, Jacobo contributed just five Premier League goals to Liverpool’s title win – but almost all of them came in crucial moments.

Three of his goals were equalizers as Liverpool trailed 1-0 and struggled at home. All the big moments, all of them helping Liverpool score points, all of them – by chance – in front of the Kop.

An equalizer on Boxing Day would change the course of the match against Leicester City, and two more against Fulham and Brighton. There was also the opening match in what was previously a title race clash with Manchester City. Moreover, there was the goal that decided the result against Real Madrid in the Champions League. He has also scored four goals in three Carabao Cup matches so far.

Overall, Gakpo’s ability to feature for Liverpool in multiple competitions is best demonstrated by him averaging the most shot creations per 90 minutes of any striker in Slot’s squad. Not even Salah contributed to the same extent as Jacobo in all areas.

Gakpo’s form sums up how Slott has improved Liverpool’s squad without having to resort to the transfer market. Like other players such as Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenbrech, the Dutchman looked a bit lost as he settled into Liverpool life under Jurgen Klopp.

Part of his shift towards being a key player is down to his move to the left wing. The striker largely played in that role at PSV Eindhoven, but former Liverpool boss Klopp preferred him anywhere but there.

It was six months ago, after Klopp left Liverpool and Jacobo went to Euro 2024 with the Netherlands, when the 25-year-old found his old self again.

“At the European Championships, I played as a left winger again. Then the new coach came this season, I spoke to him and he said: ‘You have to focus on the left wing position – that is your position when you come in.’” Jacopo said earlier this season: “In or when “You start.”

“Because he said there’s a lot of competition here, so you just have to show yourself. But he said, ‘This is going to be your attitude.’

“It felt a bit, for me, just like I did in Eindhoven as well. I feel really good in this position. I’m trying to show my best to everyone, what I’m capable of.”

“I think now I’ve come into more one-on-ones facing the opposition, where I can really get inside and cross, or shoot or get out and cross – which is more my game, I would say, and where I think I can be really dangerous and help the team more.”

Gakpo has developed into a real clutch player for Liverpool, but this has become a real tough time for Arne Slot’s Reds side.

With eight games to go in January and some tough challenges ahead, the Dutchman may be needed more than ever if Liverpool are to soar in all competitions.

Watch the Liverpool and Manchester United match live on Sky Sports Premier League on Sunday, the match starts at 4.30 pm. Stream the game with your NOW TV card.