Elliott and Gakpo, Strangely Under-Appreciated, and Over Here
Two superb squad players with time on their side
Two players who have offered outstanding value and durability for Liverpool this season, but who, not being first XI starters if everyone is fit, have had a strange amount of criticism.
For instance, Cody Gakpo has 13 goals this season (thirteen), and has not taken penalties. And he’s being criticised?! It’s not like he cost £100m.
Had he taken the Reds’ penalties, he could have 20 goals, which would be remarkable. He’s played in all three striking positions and a huge chunk in midfield.
While he’s not doing as well as he did as the first-choice false nine last season (and lacks that extra yard of pace to be truly devastating), he’s contributing massively. He’s still only 24, and just over a year into life in England.
Gakpo cost less than half Man United’s Antony, who is the same age, and Antony has scored 10 goals in his last 74 games, and just two this season.
Gakpo has more league goals in just 1,163 minutes this season, despite a good chunk of them in midfield, than Antony has since he joined United for £80m.
If you said Gakpo was Liverpool’s 5th choice of the front five, then what the hell is the problem?! Jeez, what a problem to have!
Luis Díaz, who struggled after the adrenaline “do it for them” of his parents’ kidnapping finally wore off, has 11 non-penalty goals (as he rediscovers his mojo), Diogo Jota 14 non-penalty goals, and Darwin Núñez 16 (plus one penalty scored, and one missed).
There’s not a massive gulf between them all; Salah’s 21 includes five penalties. Had he not taken them (Alexis Mac Allister looks like the most reliable at the club now, but not the most senior), all of the strikers would be between 11-16.
Isn’t it great that your 5th-choice attacker has 30% more goals than Antony (£80m) and Marcus Rashford (£300,000 a week) combined, and Rashford’s tally includes penalties?
Jack Grealish cost £100m and has three goals this season. Add Jérémy Doku’s four, and you’re basically at half Gakpo’s tally. You can add an Oscar Bobb or two and still not get close.
Like Elliott, just 20, Gakpo is hugely versatile, has incredible stamina, and is massively professional.
Neither seems to get injured, yet are amongst Liverpool’s best pressers, best shooters, and recent game-time has come with up to 12 players being injured, so far from the most stable and strongest lineups.
While not first XI regulars, they still appear in virtually every Liverpool game; almost as often as Stuart Attwell and Paul Tierney.
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