thisisanfield.com

Why Cody Gakpo’s Liverpool legacy is more complicated than it appears

After months of speculation, Cody Gakpo‘s three-and-a-half-year spell at Anfield looks likely to come to an end. His time at Liverpool deserves a second look.

The discourse around the Dutchman certainly hardened over the past 18 months, as the Reds limped to a fifth-placed finish.

With patience becoming thinner with every loss, not a game went by without Gakpo being vilified on social media.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 31, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo reacts after missing a chance during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Whether it was compilations of him ignoring Milos Kerkez‘s runs, predictably cutting inside, or that video of him clearing a certain Liverpool goal off the line at Wolves, it’s safe to say that Gakpo hasn’t been a fan favourite of late.

However, was all of the criticism aimed at the 27-year-old fair? Or will Liverpool regret letting him go?

Upon reflection, Gakpo’s Liverpool legacy is more complicated than it first appears.

Early promise in a ridiculously stacked attack

2P3N6XK Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (left) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with team-mates during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday March 5, 2023.

When Gakpo was announced in December 2022, it did raise a few eyebrows.

Languishing in sixth, Jurgen Klopp‘s era was showing the first signs of exhaustion. It’s a familiar feeling, but many had expected Fenway Sports Group to rectify this by replenishing Liverpool’s midfield.

So when another forward arrived, we were all a bit confused.

Especially when you consider the Reds’ front line already boasted three of Liverpool’s Fab Four – Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota – alongside Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

He was never really supposed to be a starter.

At best, he was a potential Firmino replacement, but even that mantle truly belonged to Jota. At worst, he could do a job across the front three.

Cody Gakpo: Liverpool Career Stats

||||

Season Appearances (All Comps) Goals

2022/23 21 7

2023/24 53 16

2024/25 49 18

2025/26 52 9

* Performance data via FotMob.

His first six months in a red shirt were quietly impressive. Scoring your first goal against Everton at Anfield is never a bad way to endear yourself to the Kop.

He followed that up with a further six goals, including two in that famous 7–0 thrashing against United.

Considering he was forced to play in midfield at times by Klopp, it was a solid start. And in terms of output, it’s something he improved on each season until…

Slotball and a disappointing 2025/26

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo reacts to missing a chance to equalise during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Having suffered through last season from the stands, I completely understand where the frustration towards Gakpo is coming from.

To finish on just nine goals in all competitions last season – half of what he managed in 2024/25 – feels particularly underwhelming.

The eye test backs this up as well. Far too predictable on the ball, the Dutchman was as guilty as anyone in terms of lacking creativity and inspiration on the ball.

That being said, the manager’s style of play hardly helped.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo scores his side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The longer Arne Slot was at Liverpool, the slower and more passive they became – which hurt Gakpo more than others.

Getting through a parked bus is one thing, but Slot’s passive approach on the ball meant his team-mates rarely played Gakpo in early.

With fewer chances to be one-on-one, he found himself cutting into oncoming traffic far more often.

Gakpo hasn’t changed – Liverpool have

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Arguably though, the biggest problem with Gakpo is that people judge him in relation to those around him.

Whilst there was a big drop-off compared to 2024/25, it’s worth pointing out that he only scored three fewer Premier League goals last season.

In fact, when you add his assists to the equation, the Dutchman has maintained a consistent output throughout his Liverpool career.

Cody Gakpo: Premier League Goal Involvements

||||

Season Appearances Goals + Assists

2022/23 21 10

2023/24 35 13

2024/25 35 15

2025/26 36 12

* Performance data via FotMob.

But all this was massively amplified by Salah’s drop-off on the other side of the pitch.

If Salah was still banging in the goals, nobody would have batted an eyelid. But as a result of his decline, there was more pressure on Gakpo to make up for this shortfall, which he was never going to do.

Moreover, the emergence of Rio Ngumoha has only warped perceptions even further. The 17-year-old became a mirror held up to Gakpo, amplifying everything the Dutchman is not: unpredictable, explosive, impossible to contain.

Stacked up against Rio’s fearlessness, Gakpo’s clockwork cut-ins became even more tiresome.

How Gakpo is judged for what he isn’t

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

He may not captivate like Rio. He certainly didn’t reach the heights of Sadio Mane. And he was never going to be Mo.

But what Gakpo was, was reliable – 51 goals for Liverpool is no mean feat.

You know Gakpo is going to cut inside, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. Heck, Arjen Robben built a successful career out of it.

He’s had less success with it recently, but as we saw at the World Cup and against Newcastle in this season’s opener, he’s still a good player.

SINGAPORE - Wednesday, August 2, 2023: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo shakes hands with manager Jürgen Klopp after being substituted during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and FC Bayern Munich FC at the Singapore National Stadium. Bayern won 4-3. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The problem with Gakpo is that’s all he is – nothing more, nothing less.

He was never bought to replace the output of Salah. He is a solid player with some potential who was thrust into the limelight during a difficult season.

The issue wasn’t that Gakpo isn’t world class. It’s that Liverpool lost too many superstars around him, and Gakpo wasn’t built to carry that weight on his own.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp once said: “It’s not so important what people think when you come in; it’s much more important what people think when you leave.”

Going by social media, it’s safe to say people think far less of Gakpo than when he started.

But looking back at his time at Anfield, it seems that the backlash towards Gakpo has less to do with his own performances and more to do with a club mourning the end of one era and struggling to bring a new one to life.

And unless Andoni Iraola can get a tune out of them, he won’t be the last to leave this way.

UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase Draw‚Äã

MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 29: A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League Trophy during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Group Stage Draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 29, 2024 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Paris-Saint-Germain-v-Stade-Brestois-29-UEFA-Champions-League-202425-League-Knockout-Play-off-Second-Leg-1.jpg copy

Bradley Barcola, PSG (Image: UEFA)

Read full news in source page