It's over! Star confirms he will finally replace Cody Gakpo at Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool could finally be replacing their Dutchman.

The club's ambitions demand elite consistency in every attacking position, and Cody Gakpo has yet to prove he can meet that standard - particularly on the left wing.

While he has shown flashes of quality, they have been too infrequent to justify a regular starting role in a team that want to be up there among Europe's elite.

One of the biggest concerns is his lack of effectiveness in one vs one situations. Modern wide forwards are expected to beat defenders, create space, and destabilise backlines. Gakpo, however, often struggles to impose himself in these moments.

He's a very one dimensional player, who loves to cut onto his right-foot and unleash a shot at goal. But his efforts this season have been thwarted pretty much of the time by the opposition.

This limits Liverpool’s attacking unpredictability and makes them easier to defend against.

His overall impact can also feel passive. Games can drift by without him asserting influence, which is a major issue for a club that relies on dynamic, decisive attackers. While he may be useful as a squad option, Liverpool need more from a starting left-winger - someone who can consistently stretch defences, create chances, and deliver in high-pressure moments.

If Liverpool are serious about competing at the very top level, upgrading on Gakpo in that role should be a priority rather than a consideration.

And this was always Liverpool's plan. Let's be honest they never planned for Gakpo to be the starting left-winger.

Liverpool were interested in Anthony Gordon, Antoine Semenyo and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in all three of the last three transfer windows that Richard Hughes has overseen.

Last summer, it's clear there was an obvious plan for the Reds to replace the departing Luis Diaz and not have Gakpo be a regular starter in the team.

That plan involved having Hugo Ekitike playing on the left-wing. It's the most logical sense and it looks like it could finally happen.

For most of the season, Liverpool have not had the luxury of being able to drop Gakpo, nor to use Ekitike on the left-wing because he has been needed to play through the middle.

But that's going to be changing with the return of Alexander Isak, who will allow Ekitike to drop left and finally take Gakpo out of the starting line-up by replacing him as the club's left-winger.

Ekitike confirmed he's got everything in his locker to replace the Dutchman.

For France he's been playing on the left-wing in order to accommodate a star studded attack that includes Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.

And on Thursday night, he showed what he was capable of against Brazil no less producing a stunning performance as a left-winger, which included a beautifully taken goal but also plenty of exciting forward runs and moments in one vs one situations where he caused the Brazilian defence problems.

It was a performance that confirmed Gakpo's time on the left-wing will be coming to an end soon. Ekitike is going to replace the Dutchman as soon as Isak is back fit and ready to go.

It's how you accommodate both Ekitike and Isak in the same line-up under Arne Slot's current system.

When it happens, our misery will finally be over.