Cody Gakpo’s Role at Liverpool Analysed on Stat Me Up Podcast | OneFootball

Cody Gakpo: Quiet Contributor or System Puzzle for Liverpool?

Efficiency in Limited Spaces

Cody Gakpo’s Liverpool career continues to split opinion. In the latest Stat Me Up episode on Anfield Index, Simon Brundish and Dave Davis explored the Dutch forward’s role, positioning and productivity—and what the numbers really say.

Brundish provided a striking comparison: “So if he has a ten percent shot, which is a Cody Gakpo shot, nine or ten percent from the corner of the box or just inside the corner of the box, and then he kills it into the far post for sixty five percent.” The comment hints at Gakpo’s tendency to operate from wide, less central areas—often taking low-xG shots, but occasionally turning them into high-value chances.

Measuring Impact per Touch

While Gakpo might not be as prolific or high-profile as Mo Salah, his involvement isn’t insignificant. “Gakpo’s is point three nine, which is… we get in like top twenty five in the league per hundred touches,” Brundish said, referencing his attacking output efficiency. That stat suggests that when Gakpo is involved, he’s purposeful—even if he’s not dominating the ball.

The efficiency metric is further contextualised by Brundish’s praise of another player: “Diaz has the best possession control of any of our forwards, which kind of makes sense,” but Gakpo’s name is closely tied in, along with Diogo Jota. It paints a picture of a forward line in transition—each with different strengths, none truly replicating the impact of Liverpool’s past trio.

Where Do the Goals Come From?

Perhaps the biggest caveat in Gakpo’s season so far is the source of his goals. Brundish noted: “A lot of Gakpo’s goals came in the Carabao,” implying a need for greater consistency in league play and bigger fixtures. Cup performances may boost stats, but Liverpool’s expectations demand a player who can contribute meaningfully in the Premier League and Europe.

Brundish summed up the imbalance starkly: “And that is as many as Darwin, Diogo and Gakpo combined.” This was in reference to Salah’s elite-level output—highlighting how far the rest of the forward line, including Gakpo, still need to climb to be truly decisive.

Conclusion

Cody Gakpo remains something of a statistical enigma for Liverpool. He has strong per-touch value, shows finishing talent from awkward angles, and contributes in cup competitions—but the jury is still out on whether he can fully translate that into consistent league dominance.