Liverpool need reinforcements ahead of the new Premier League season, but one ex-player thinks the Reds must hold onto Cody Gakpo
Liverpool foward Cody Gakpo
Liverpool foward Cody Gakpo(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo should still have a future at the club, despite the emergence of Rio Ngumoha and the pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.
That's the view of former Reds midfielder and wing-back Jason McAteer, who feels that the Dutch international became something of a scapegoat for supporters amid the disappointment of last season.
Gakpo made 36 Premier League appearances for Arne Slot's side last season, scoring seven goals, but he came under strong criticism for being too predictable when attacking with the ball and found himself vying for a starting place with teenager Ngumoha towards the end of the season.
New boss Andoni Iraola has already signed one winger this summer in the shape of Spanish World Cup-winner Victor Munoz, but McAteer, who joined the Reds from Bolton Wanderers in 1995 and made 139 appearances for the club, still has a lot of time for Gakpo and thinks he was unfairly treated by some supporters during the previous campaign.
Speaking to Betarades.gr, McAteer said: "When a football club doesn't do as well as people expect, or expectations drop or levels drop, then fans will look to find blame somewhere. Whether it's the board, the manager or the players.
"I felt, last season, Cody took a lot of criticism, and unfair criticism. I think Cody Gakpo is a really hard-working individual who always tries his best for the team. He will nick a goal. He can be predictable, he can drop in and out of games. At times he can be frustrating but listen, that's the life of a winger in the Premier League."
"Cody seems to relish playing for his country. I played with players who seemed to really enjoy going away on international duty. They felt more comfortable and you'd get better performances, or it looked that way."
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"At a time when the club wasn't doing well, and people wanted to point fingers, it was easy to point one at Cody because he's not going to throw his arms up, he's not gonna kick a fuss up, he's not gonna go to the newspapers, he's not gonna have a go at the crowd. I felt he was an easy target."
Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, in a deal worth around £37m. He now faces increased competition from rising star Ngumoha but could also see his place come under threat from Liverpool's current pursuit of France international Barcola, who also prefers playing on the left.
"He was under pressure last season from Rio," added McAteer. "Everyone wanted to see a bit more of the exciting, flair, guile player. Everybody loves that kind of player. This World Cup was littered with them and we're all talking about individuals."
"But sometimes you need a bit of a team player and that's what Cody is. So he was always fighting it."
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