Liverpool kicked off their pre-season with a 3-1 win over Preston North End. The result didn't matter. This was an occasion for Diogo Jota, with the two clubs coming together to celebrate and commemorate a wonderful man who will forever be woven into Liverpool's history, forever a part of Anfield.
The football was secondary, but it was a chance for fans to see the fruits of sporting director Richard Hughes' labours in the transfer market, with wide duo Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong catching the eye.
Kerkez, signed from Bournemouth for £40m, looks an absolute menace, so lively and sharp. Replacing Andy Robertson, 31, should have been a daunting thing, but the Reds have hit the jackpot here.
Jeremy Frimpong and Arne Slot
Frimpong, too, shone, using his blistering speed and underrated intelligence to great effect, winning three of four duels and completing his one attempted dribble, as per Sofascore.
Giorgi Mamardashvili also exuded control between the sticks, but it wasn't just the new boys who caught the eye, with Cody Gakpo looking good to continue his rise under Arne Slot's wing.
Cody Gakpo's performance vs Preston
Last season, pundit Peter Crouch noted that Gakpo had "gone up a level" with Slot at the helm, going from strength to strength as he performed in a fixed attacking role off the left flank, as opposed to the shuffle-about role he had for Jurgen Klopp.
Against Preston, Gakpo continued that impressive role, seeing plenty of the ball and converting a well-taken goal that led to an emotional celebration.
The 25-year-old will be desperate to prove to his manager that he deserves another season in a prominent position at Anfield, having scored 18 goals and provided seven assists across 49 matches last year.
Cody Gakpo celebrates for Liverpool
However, with Luis Diaz potentially being sold this summer, Bayern Munich reported to have agreed personal terms with the versatile Colombian forward, Slot is within his rights to want more depth out on the wing.
And the man the Dutch coach has in mind might just have the quality to supersede Gakpo.
Liverpool lining up new forward
According to reports from Spain, Liverpool are planning to make an offer for Real Madrid star Rodrygo this summer, potentially using the non-committal Ibrahima Konate as leverage in a potential one-in, one-out deal.
Rodrygo has been considered among the world's leading forwards for several years, but he's struggled of late with Real, having been pushed to the backbenches since Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti.
Another Spanish outlet, AS, have also chimed in, revealing that Rodrygo has a price tag of €100m (£86m). Los Blancos might be willing to sell their long-serving winger, but only on their terms.
Time will tell whether Hughes and Michael Edwards can engineer a deal that checks out for Liverpool. Arsenal are also keen, though, so swiftness is important here.
Why Liverpool want Rodrygo
Rodrygo would be the first to admit that he endured a frustrating 2024/25 campaign, but having chalked up 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, it's clear he's got a high bar, which leaves even poor seasons above that of many other forwards across Europe.
Rodrygo-Real-Madrid-stats
His former teammate, Luka Modric, actually called him a "world-class superstar" once, and with a longing for a permanent place on the left wing, Rodrygo could find that Liverpool would be the perfect new home for him, should Diaz be sold in the coming weeks.
Given that the Brazil international was fielded out on the right for the majority of the 2024/25 campaign in spite of his preference to play on the opposite flank, maximising his potency, he did well.
Moreover, he's a big-game star, something Liverpool will need as they challenge for the biggest prizes once more.
Rodrygo's arrival wouldn't prove detrimental for Gakpo; Diaz and the Dutchman cohabited in the Reds first team last year.
But there's a sense that Liverpool would be signing an upgrade on the former PSV Eindhoven talent, one who could dynamise and expand Slot's vision as the Reds chase down more success.
League Stats 24/25 - Cody Gakpo vs Rodrygo
Match Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Shots (on target)*
Big chances missed
Pass completion
Big chances created
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels (won)*
Data via Sofascore
Looking at how Gakpo in the Premier League and Rodrygo in La Liga compared last season, you'd have to say that the wide range of qualities leans toward the Brazilian's favour, even though he flattered to deceive by his standards.
Moreover, he might have only scored six times, but the 24-year-old also missed only one big chance, underscoring his value as a prolific outlet.
Journalist Sam Tighe once backed this up when calling Rodrygo "terrifyingly good" in front of goal, so deadly when fit and on form.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo-1
The fact that Rodrygo managed to score six goals and supply six assists from the left side of Real Madrid's frontline probably tells you all you need to know, for Ancelotti actually gave him just 12 appearances from that flank.
A duo of Gakpo and Rodrygo contesting for the ascendancy in Slot's system would only be a good thing. But if Rodrygo is given the grounds to grow his confidence, he might just find himself eclipsing Gakpo, bringing athletic completeness to marry into a natural-born bent for goalscoring which has perhaps yet to even be fully realised on the professional stage.
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