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Linz, Austria – October 14: Bradley Barcola of Liverpool FC celebrates after scoring his teams fifth Goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 match between LASK and Liverpool at Oberösterreich Arena on October 14, 2026 in Linz, Austria.
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Steven Gerrard explains why it was ‘critical’ that Liverpool did not sell Cody Gakpo to Manchester City
[James Brooke
Football JournalistThu 15 October 2026 3:00 PDT](https://www.rousingthekop.com/author/jamesbrooke/)
Cody Gakpo pictured in action during Liverpool's Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
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Liverpool fans are still waiting to hear when Cody Gakpo will be back fit and available as he looks to build on a strong start to the season.
The Dutchman was the subject of transfer discussions before the campaign began, with an agreement reached to sell him to Manchester City. But after Liverpool failed to find a suitable replacement for him, Gakpo was kept and has subsequently stepped up to become a key player under Andoni Iraola.
An ankle injury sustained on international duty has curtailed his involvement for now, but former Reds captain Steven Gerrard has claimed that he is expecting the 27-year-old to be hugely important when he returns.
Here's our player ratings! Who deserves higher or, perhaps, even lower? 🤔
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Liverpool’s Champions League player ratings vs LASK as Bradley Barcola runs riot in Linz](https://www.rousingthekop.com/2026/10/14/liverpools-champions-league-player-ratings-vs-lask-as-reds-run-riot-in-linz/)
Are they defenders or strikers/midfielders? As a forner defender, at Sunday League level, myself, thecwoeful defending was a disgrace. Why we brought that idiot Tsimikas back, considering how consistently dire he was before, beggars belief.
@martywebb777 Both played well to be fair, although poor for the goals, especially Frimpong. Can't knock them too much on a night where they got four assists and a goal between them. Just thought the organisation completely went from the defence, and that is on Virgil really. Gomez took a stray because the drop off coincided with him coming on as well!
strange that our 2 full backs who couldn't defend if their lives depended on it, get off scott free, unlike Vab Dijk and Gomez, who only came on late, and actually know how to defend...
Gerrard pleased Liverpool did not sell Gakpo
In a different world, Gakpo could have been lining up against Liverpool for Man City during Sunday’s defeat at Anfield. Given the revelation of City’s guilty verdict from the Premier League in September, he is probably grateful that the move did not go through.
Gerrard is too, and as he told former lower league striker and Liverpool supporter Adebayo Akinfenwa on his ‘Beast Mode On’ podcast, Gakpo, though he is currently injured, is the best alternative Iraola has to Alexander Isak right now.
“Well, you know what? I think obviously on the back of last season and the injury to Ekitike and was only really having one number nine in Isak, I think it was critical that we kept Cody Gakpo,” he said, after Akinfenwa revealed that he messaged Gakpo asking him not to leave.
“He’s had a decent World Cup, he’s had a decent preseason, and he started the season on fire. I think he’s got a little small niggle at the moment, but hopefully that’s not too bad because we’re going to need him. He’s an important part of the squad and hopefully he can keep delivering because if he can bring that consistency over the course of the season then I’m looking forward to watching him.”
READ MORE: Lewis Koumas achieved a feat only Steven Gerrard can match in the Champions League for Liverpool v LASK
When is Gakpo back from injury?
Three Liverpool players returned from the international break injured, but Iraola has so far refused to be drawn on giving timelines for the returns of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak or Gakpo.
He did speak about the trio before Wednesday’s win over LASK, however, reporting that they are each getting closer, but are yet to train with the group.
“They are not far, but it’s difficult to tell right now,” he said at Tuesday’s press conference. “None of the three have trained with the group and we are taking it day to day.
“I don’t know if they’re going to be ready for Brentford, for Villarreal, for Brighton, I don’t know.”
With Lewis Koumas in decent form and Bradley Barcola now hitting his straps too, Liverpool are in a better place to cope without their absent forwards. But fans will hope to see Gakpo again soon as he pulls an Anfield career that looked to be over back from the brink.