Jurgen Klopp urged fans not to expect Cody Gakpo to make an immediate impact, but the Liverpool attacker has proven him wrong – much to the German’s delight
Not every Liverpool recruit is going to make an immediate effect at Anfield. Darwin Nunez may have become the latest Reds player to score on his debut for the club, against Manchester City in the Community Shield last July, but it takes a bit longer for other players to settle.
There is no shame in this, and under Jurgen Klopp, supporters may have been more tolerant when new arrivals need a little more time to settle in.
The first names that come to mind are probably Andy Robertson and Fabinho. The Scotland international would not become a regular for Liverpool until December 2017, while Fabinho would not make his first Premier League start for the Reds until October 2018.
Money and reputation are irrelevant if Klopp wants a player to adjust to Liverpool’s style and demands before giving them a regular starting spot.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kostas Tsimikas, and Ibrahima Konate have all taken their time making an impression. While there was some criticism when players like Fabinho were not immediately inserted into Klopp’s starting lineup, fans are now accustomed to such patient treatment when it is required.
And perhaps that was expected again after the January signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. After all, Klopp warned not to expect the Dutchman to replicate Luis Diaz’s dramatic effect after signing from FC Porto a year ago.
“I’m extremely positive about him (but) I’m not sure it’s useful to compare his influence to Diaz’s,” Klopp told reporters ahead of Gakpo’s FA Cup debut against Wolves in January. “To be honest, that was pretty special.
“We could switch things up a little. We were also having injury issues, so he was incredibly helpful. That is how it will be in the future.
“Cody is given the same amount of time as the other players. It’s not easy to establish yourself offensively. He’s from a different league. It is always challenging. It was also for Lucho, but you don’t have to compare them. Indeed, we anticipate a favorable influence.”
Klopp’s admonition appeared to be valid at first. After all, as Liverpool’s woes persisted, the Dutchman had little influence in his first few games for the club.
During his first six appearances for the Reds, he failed to score or assist as they fell to the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolves. Meanwhile, it didn’t assist his bedding-in process that he was switched between left wing and up front by Klopp.
Yet, unlike some of the other names named, Gakpo was thrust directly into the Liverpool starting Eleven. With Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Roberto Firmino all out for the season, and Nunez also suffering minor ailments, Klopp was forced to stick with his mid-season signing.
Now 12 games into his Liverpool tenure, the story is completely different, with the Reds finally finding form. Gakpo made it back-to-back goals by scoring away at Newcastle United after opening his account at the seventh time of asking against Everton.
Yet, after making his debut as a substitute against Wolves last week, he replied with his finest performance in a Liverpool shirt to date, scoring a brace in Liverpool’s 7-0 thumping of Manchester United.
The 23-year-old now has four goals for the club, all of which have come while playing centrally with Nunez on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right. The Dutchman is already primed to thrive in a consistent attack as he continues to adapt to Klopp’s false nine role.
To put such a comeback into perspective, Diaz had two goals in his first 12 games a year ago, though only seven of them were starts. It comes as the Reds attempt an unprecedented quadruple, highlighting the two extremely different environments both players came from.
While Gakpo’s start to the season hasn’t been the most impressive in Liverpool history, his record looks a lot better now than it did a few weeks ago. Nonetheless, he’s settled in far faster than some of the Reds’ previous “slow-burners” before him.
Klopp may have advised observers not to expect the Dutchman to make an immediate impact, and he may not have had as much playing time or the opportunity to do so if not for injuries elsewhere. Nevertheless, only two months into his Liverpool career, Gakpo has already proven his new manager wrong, much to the joy of the German.
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