This is the news Liverpool really didn’t want.
Cody Gakpo is set to be out for several weeks after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty with the Netherlands.
Rik Elfrink of Eindhovens Dagblad reports that tests carried out in Eindhoven have shown Gakpo will spend several weeks on the sidelines. The Netherlands have also confirmed that he has left the squad and will return to Liverpool. (Goal)
It is a significant blow for Andoni Iraola.
Gakpo was forced off just 17 minutes into the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia after taking a heavy challenge from Sasa Lukic. He initially tried to continue, but eventually had to signal to the bench that he couldn’t carry on.
At first, there was some hope that it wouldn’t be too serious.
That has now disappeared.
There is still no exact return date, so we don’t know precisely how many games Gakpo will miss. But “several weeks” is enough to know Liverpool are going to have to cope without one of their most important attacking players for a period of the season.
And that is a real problem.
Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s most productive players under Iraola so far. He has contributed two goals and four assists this season, and his form had been particularly encouraging.
His absence also comes at a particularly awkward time because Liverpool already have problems up front.
Alexander Isak has returned from international duty with a minor thigh problem, while Hugo Ekitike remains out. That leaves Iraola with some difficult decisions to make if both Gakpo and Isak are unavailable when Liverpool return to action.
And the first game back isn’t exactly a gentle one.
Manchester City are due at Anfield on October 11.
There is still time for players to recover, of course, and Isak’s injury has been described as minor. But suddenly the international break has become a pretty worrying one for Liverpool.
What I don’t want to see is anyone panicking.
Liverpool have options.
Bradley Barcola can play across the front line. Rio Ngumoha has already shown that he isn’t frightened of playing senior football. Lewis Koumas is another young option, while Liverpool’s system can be adapted depending on who is available.
But replacing Gakpo’s current contribution isn’t straightforward.
He’s become more than just another winger. His ability to attack from the left, move inside, combine with other attackers and contribute goals has made him a hugely important part of the team.
And I think his absence could also give Ngumoha a really interesting opportunity.
I’ve been saying for a while that the youngster needs opportunities rather than simply being talked about as a future star. Well, this is the sort of situation where those opportunities can suddenly arrive.
Nobody should expect a teenager to simply replace Gakpo.
That’s not fair.
But if Ngumoha gets more minutes over the next few weeks, he has a chance to show Iraola exactly what he can offer.
That’s probably the positive Liverpool have to take from this.
Because there isn’t much point feeling sorry for themselves.
Gakpo will recover, Liverpool will get him back, and Iraola now has to find a way through the period without him.
The frustrating part is that Gakpo had looked in really good shape before this injury.
He had just scored for the Netherlands against Germany, then started against Serbia before the ankle problem ended his night after only 17 minutes.
Now Liverpool have to wait.
Hopefully “several weeks” turns out to be the shorter end of that description rather than something much longer.
But make no mistake, this is a proper injury blow for Liverpool.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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