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Cody Gakpo’s Role Under Scrutiny at Liverpool

Liverpool’s season has become a story of underachievement dressed up as transition. Arne Slot’s debut campaign could hardly have gone better with a Premier League title, but the follow up has exposed uncomfortable truths about squad balance, form, and tactical fit. Sitting fourth and having won just five of their last 17 league games, this feels less like a blip and more like a warning sign.

One of the players increasingly under the microscope is Cody Gakpo, a footballer who has never quite escaped the sense that he is still searching for his best position in a Liverpool shirt. His goal off the bench in the 3-0 win over Marseille offered a timely reminder of his quality, but it also reinforced the growing belief that his strongest contributions might come as an impact substitute rather than a guaranteed starter.

David Lynch’s Assessment of Gakpo’s Current Form

Speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, David Lynch was refreshingly honest in his analysis of Gakpo’s situation. He captured both the player’s mental state and the tactical dilemma facing Slot.

“You could see a bit of frustration and relief when he scored that goal because I think he knows that he’s not playing great at the moment.”

That line alone tells you plenty. Confidence is a fragile thing at elite level, and Gakpo looks like a player caught between expectation and reality. He is trying to do too much in a system that often leaves him isolated or asking him to play with his back to goal.

“He was bright when he came on to finish the game, but I just think the system that Liverpool have been using has been putting too much pressure on him.”

Slot’s approach relies heavily on fluid forwards who can press, link play, and arrive in scoring positions. Gakpo can do parts of that, but not consistently across a full season.

Squad Depth and Rotation Challenges

Lynch also made a key point about workload and reliability.

“He’s a high quality player, but he’s not a player that you want to rely on him playing 50 games. He’s never that player.”

This is where Liverpool’s squad planning starts to look thin. Gakpo is being asked to fill too many roles because alternatives have either underperformed or been unavailable. That is not his fault, but it does highlight his limitations.

“He’s someone you need to be able to rotate when he is in form or out of form. You don’t want to be starting him every week.”

Rotation is a luxury Liverpool do not currently have. Injuries and inconsistent form elsewhere mean Gakpo keeps getting picked, even when his performances suggest he needs a spell out of the spotlight.

Impact Sub Role Fits Gakpo Better

Where Lynch’s analysis becomes most compelling is in his description of how Gakpo should be used.

“When they use this system where he can come on and play as a striker, that suits him.”

There is logic here. As a substitute, Gakpo can exploit tired defenders, simplify his game, and focus on finishing rather than build up play. His goal against Marseille came from exactly that scenario.

“I don’t want to be too harsh because he’s a really good player and he’s just not in great form at the moment. Hopefully that goal can give him some confidence and help him to kick on.”

This feels like the right tone. Gakpo is not a problem to be solved, but he is not the solution to Liverpool’s attacking issues either. Used smarter, he remains a valuable asset. Used out of necessity, he risks becoming another symbol of a season drifting away from Slot’s early promise.