Jamie Carragher praised Cody Gakpo as a “revelation” for his standout performance in the Reds’s 7-0 victory over the Red Devils and sees promising signs of a new front three taking shape for the team.
Liverpool’s New Front Three and Cody Gakpo’s Breakout Performance
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool’s 7-0 win over Manchester United highlights the emergence of a new front three, comprising of Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo. Carragher said that the trio’s performance against United shows signs of their budding chemistry as Liverpool hopes to build another formidable attacking unit to rival their previous triumvirate of Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane.
Carragher added that despite not knowing if they will reach the same level of success as their predecessors, Liverpool’s performance against one of the most in-form teams in Europe is an excellent indicator of their capability to take teams apart and score goals.
Carragher noted that Gakpo’s performance against United was impressive, even though he had only scored twice in his first 11 games for Liverpool since his £45m move from PSV Eindhoven in January. Cody Gakpo played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s victory, and his positioning alongside Harvey Elliott allowed Liverpool to exploit gaps in Manchester United’s midfield. Carragher explained that United’s midfielders, Casemiro and Fred, were forced to cover a lot of ground due to Gakpo and Elliott’s positioning, creating a massive gulf in the midfield that Liverpool exploited.
Carragher was particularly impressed with Gakpo’s third goal, where he slid a pass through to Salah from inside his own half, then accelerated into the United box, lifting a delicate finish over David de Gea. Carragher noted that Gakpo’s composure in passing to Salah was impressive, given he was being challenged by an opponent, and he waited for space to open up before making the pass. Carragher added that he didn’t think Cody Gakpo had the pace to play as a wide player, but his running power was fantastic, and his finish was world-class.
Tactical Analysis
Carragher praised Jurgen Klopp for his tactical set-up against United, which was almost like a diamond or a box. The deployment of Cody Gakpo and Elliott in the half-spaces allowed Liverpool to exploit gaps in United’s midfield and force their central midfielders to cover more ground. Carragher added that the idea was to get Gakpo and Elliott in the half-spaces, as Klopp often speaks about.
Carragher explained that Manchester United’s midfielders were stretched due to Gakpo and Elliott’s positioning. With Gakpo in the half-space, nobody was marking him, which allowed him to pick up the ball and run at United’s defense. Carragher noted that this created a massive gulf in the midfield, with United’s two central midfielders 27 yards apart, which made it easy for Liverpool to exploit the spaces.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s win over Manchester United highlighted their ability to build a new front three, with Gakpo, Nunez, and Salah as their main attacking trio. The emergence of Gakpo is a welcome development for Liverpool, given his impressive performance against United. Carragher believes that the signs of a new front three blossoming are present, even though it remains to be seen if they will reach the same heights as their predecessors.
Klopp’s tactical set-up against United was impressive, allowing Liverpool to exploit gaps in United’s midfield and dominate the game. Overall, Liverpool’s win over United was a statement victory that showcased their capabilities and potential to compete at the highest level.