The question that hung over Anfield was not whether Cody Gakpo possessed talent—that had never been in doubt. It was whether the Dutch international could consistently translate his undeniable ability into game-defining output for Liverpool. After a debut season and a half marked by flashes of brilliance interspersed with frustrating inconsistency, the current campaign has offered compelling evidence that Gakpo is growing into a more influential role in Arne Slot’s evolving tactical system.
The Statistical Profile: Beyond the Goals
To understand Gakpo’s season, one must look beyond the raw goal tally. While his finishing has shown improvement, the underlying metrics suggest a player who has become more involved in Liverpool’s build-up play and more dangerous in the final third. His shot-creating actions per 90 minutes have increased compared to the previous season, reflecting a player who is not just a finisher but a creator.
The data suggests a player who is growing into Slot’s system. His progressive passes—passes that move the ball significantly toward the opponent’s goal—have climbed, indicating a willingness to take risks and find teammates in dangerous areas. This is a marked departure from his earlier Liverpool career, where he sometimes appeared hesitant to release the ball quickly.
Tactical Fit: The Slot Effect
Arne Slot’s arrival brought a philosophical shift that has proven beneficial for Gakpo. Unlike Jürgen Klopp’s high-intensity pressing system, Slot’s approach emphasizes positional discipline, controlled possession, and intelligent movement in the final third. For a player of Gakpo’s technical profile—comfortable in tight spaces, capable of drifting between lines, and possessing a sharp footballing IQ—this system is more accommodating.
In Slot’s 4-2-3-1, Gakpo has predominantly operated from the left wing, but with a crucial tactical nuance: he is encouraged to drift centrally when Liverpool build through the middle, creating overloads in the half-spaces. This movement has been particularly effective when Mohamed Salah occupies the right flank, stretching defenses and creating gaps for Gakpo to exploit.
His heat map from the season shows a player who covers significant ground across the attacking third, but with a notable concentration in the left half-space and the penalty area. This positional flexibility has made him a challenge for full-backs who struggle to decide whether to track his central runs or maintain width.
Key Performances: Defining Moments
Several matches this season have encapsulated Gakpo’s growth. In an early-season fixture against a compact mid-block defense, his intelligent movement to receive between the lines created the opening goal. His assist—a perfectly weighted through ball—demonstrated the improved decision-making that had sometimes eluded him.
Another standout performance came in a Champions League group-stage match, where Gakpo recorded a goal and an assist, completing several dribbles and creating multiple chances. His ability to drive at defenders in transition, a skill that had been inconsistent, was on full display. The match also highlighted his defensive work rate, a non-negotiable under Slot. Gakpo’s pressing triggers and recovery runs have improved, aligning with the team’s collective defensive structure.
Comparison with Peers: Where Does Gakpo Stand?
To contextualize Gakpo’s output, it is useful to compare his key metrics with other wide attackers in the Premier League. While not yet at the elite level of a fully fit Mohamed Salah or a peak Kevin De Bruyne, Gakpo’s numbers place him firmly in the upper tier of wide forwards.
Gakpo’s output places him above the league average and comfortably within the top quartile for wide forwards. His expected goals and assists (xG + xA) per 90 suggest that his production is sustainable—he is creating high-quality chances, not merely benefiting from variance.
The Creative Contribution: Key Passes and Assists
Gakpo’s role as a creator has been an underappreciated aspect of his campaign. His key passes per 90 have risen, and the quality of those passes has improved. He is now more adept at finding creative midfielders in advanced positions, linking the attack with the midfield in a way that Slot’s system demands.
His assist numbers are particularly encouraging. Unlike the previous season, where his assists often came from cutbacks or simple passes, this season has seen a greater variety: through balls, crosses from deep, and link-up play in tight areas. This diversification makes him less predictable and more valuable to the team’s overall attacking structure.
Defensive Contributions: The Forgotten Metric
In modern football, wide attackers are increasingly judged on their defensive output. Under Slot, Gakpo has shown improvement in this area. His tackles and interceptions per 90 have increased, and his pressing success rate has risen. While he will never be a defensive specialist, his willingness to track back and provide cover for the full-back has been noted by coaching staff.
His contributions to defensive metrics are part of a broader team improvement. Liverpool’s press is less frantic but more coordinated under Slot, and Gakpo’s positioning within that structure has been key. He understands when to engage and when to hold his shape, reducing the risk of being bypassed.
Areas for Continued Development
Despite the clear progress, Gakpo is not without areas for improvement. His conversion rate from high-quality chances remains slightly below the elite level. While his overall finishing has improved, there are still occasions where he opts for power over placement, or delays his shot to create a better angle.
Additionally, his consistency over a full 90 minutes can still waver. There are matches where he fades in the second half, particularly after a high-intensity first period. Building the physical and mental stamina to maintain his output throughout the season will be crucial, especially if Liverpool progresses deep into multiple competitions.
Conclusion: A Player Coming Into His Own
The current season represents a significant step forward for Cody Gakpo. Under Arne Slot’s guidance, he has evolved from a promising talent into a more reliable, productive wide attacker. The statistics support the eye test: he is creating more, scoring more, and contributing to the team’s defensive structure.
While he may never reach the iconic status of a Mohamed Salah or a Virgil van Dijk, Gakpo is proving that he can be a core component of a title-challenging Liverpool side. His tactical intelligence, improved decision-making, and growing confidence suggest that the best may still be ahead. For Liverpool fans, that is an exciting prospect—a player who arrived with potential is now beginning to fulfill it, in a system that seems tailor-made for his strengths.
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