Cody Gakpo took his chances against Chelsea and hasn’t scored for Liverpool since he arrived at Liverpool earlier this month, but he showed he can finish.

Cody Gakpo had a relatively rough start to his life in Merseyside. Since joining Liverpool earlier this month, he has played in four games but has yet to score a goal or provide an assist as he has been played in center field in a largely unknown role.

The Dutchman clocked in 319 minutes in all competitions and took a total of 12 shots, but nobody found the net. Against Chelsea over the weekend, Gakpo scored an impressive seven tries on goal, but only scored one of them. Some of his attempts against the Blues have spun over the bar and into the stands, with the 23-year-old looking like a frantic finisher so far, one who panics and rushes when openings present themselves. Despite this early prospect, Gakpo has proven to be an effective finisher in recent years.

Before moving to the English coast, Gakpo thrived at home and scored a host of goals for PSV Eindhoven, netting 36 goals in four-and-a-half Eredivisie seasons since his teenage starlet career.

His performance against expected goals can capture his finishing ability lately. In those four and a half seasons, he scored 5.8 more goals than expected. Taking into account his performances in the Europa League and the Champions League, he exceeded 10.3 goals in total.

He’s also tended to score a few goals outside the box and that comes from his excellent technique when kicking the ball around, but he didn’t show the same quality in Saturday’s clash against Chelsea at Anfield.

Gakpo can still cope with his new surroundings, suffer from nervousness or rush his actions, but regardless, he is a better finisher than he has shown so far, which means he is the shadow of Darwin Núñez in many ways.

Last season, the Uruguay international converted 27.2% of his shots into goals for Benfica, which put him once at the top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga compared to any other player who has at least 55 shots in aim.

In fact, no player in Europe’s top six leagues – with at least 55 non-penalty shots to his name – has turned his efforts into goals as effectively as Núñez. He looked deadly in the box and was able to capitalize on the moments they appeared.

Gakpo can still cope with his new surroundings, suffer from nervousness or rush his actions, but regardless, he is a better finisher than he has shown so far, which means he is the shadow of Darwin Núñez in many ways.

Last season, the Uruguay international converted 27.2% of his shots into goals for Benfica, which put him once at the top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga compared to any other player who has at least 55 shots on target .

In fact, no player in Europe’s top six leagues – with at least 55 non-penalty shots to his name – has turned his efforts into goals as effectively as Núñez. He looked deadly in the box and was able to capitalize on the moments they appeared. For context, Sadio Mane had a Premier League conversion rate of around 18% last season, with Mohamed Salah averaging slightly lower. Diogo Jota converted around 17 percent of his shots, which really highlights Núñez’s 27.2 percent in Porto

However, since he joined the Reds he has looked like a wasteful in front of goal and has quickly built a reputation for being the type of striker who needs more chances to score.

It’s unclear why Jürgen Klopp’s strikers have struggled collectively to finish this season – with Salah following suit – but that will change sooner rather than later.

Finishing is a fickle skill and players go through hot and cold streaks. The wastefulness appears to have been contagious at Anfield, but once Liverpool get past the turbulent period, Gakpo and Núñez will show why Klopp approved the deals for them.

Also….

Liverpool injury latest: When Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Co. are due back

Jurgen Klopp is currently without five senior players through injury but when can we expect them to return for Liverpool?

Liverpool are 30 games into the 2022/23 season and just six veteran players have avoided a fitness problem so far – seven if you add Cody Gakpo.

This means that a total of 23 different players have been injured for at least one game this season. Stunning.

It has exacerbated the Reds’ struggles and created a vicious circle, with the Reds’ forward line currently bearing the brunt of the fitness woes. Let’s see who is currently on hiatus and when they are expected to return.

Injury: hamstrings
Away since: Brentford (A)
Expected return: February (at the earliest against Everton)

Van Dijk was substituted in the first game of the year and what was initially seen as a precaution later became a diagnosis of ‘over a month’ on the sidelines.

The first return is likely to be the Merseyside derby at Anfield on February 13 and if not, the trip to Newcastle on February 18 will be a target.

What Klopp said (January 6): “At the end of the day, the diagnosis was quite difficult, but we are talking about weeks [out] – more than a month – [and not more].”

Roberto Firmin

Injury: muscle
Out since: Man City (A)
Expected return: February

The situation with Firmino is bizarre, he hasn’t been available since returning home after the World Cup and has missed the last eight games. The number 9 proclaimed that he was “already healed” on December 29, but has yet to return to team training almost a month later after a setback in his recovery.

It was initially estimated that Firmino’s problem would keep him sidelined for “10 days to two weeks”, but it has now been five weeks. A return is not likely until February.

What Klopp said (January 13): “I don’t know exactly when he will be back, he is not close to team training.”

Diogo Jota

Injury: calf
Away since: Man City (H)
Expected return: February (vs. Real Madrid)

Jota has been out since October and the return goal was always February and the first leg of the Champions League 16 last game against Real Madrid. That falls on February 21, giving Jota four weeks to return to team training and start building up his fitness. He is making positive progress and Real remain a realistic target.

His return will give the Reds a big boost when the time comes.

What Klopp said (January 16): “I don’t know exactly how long. He looks really good, he’s out there on the pitch. He already does a lot.

Luis Diaz

Injury: knee
Away since: Arsenal (A)
Expected return: March at the earliest

Just as Diaz was recalled to the squad after his first knee injury in October during the World Cup break, he suffered another ligament injury which required surgery.

March was the first schedule provided shortly after the news broke, meaning he will have missed at least 24 games in total. The first return date is always fixed.

Diaz has been providing positive updates on his recovery on social media and has started asking more of his left knee, something Liverpool will be watching out for as it is the second injury to the same knee in short succession.

To be honest, don’t expect him to play a big role again this season. What Klopp said (December 11): “Obviously it’s a big disappointment for all of us, including him.”

Arthur

Injury: thigh
Transferred from: Rangers (H)
Expected return: February

A protracted thigh injury kept Arthur in the infirmary for more than three months, having amassed just 13 minutes for Klopp’s side.

The Brazilian has required surgery and reports suggest he is making positive progress, but February remains the target after an initial four-month recovery period.

What about Gordon and Ramsay?

Firstly, Kaide Gordon hasn’t played a minute at any level since February 2021 due to a series of problems, believed to simply be the result of growing pains.

It has been a long road to recovery, but he is slowly getting back to full fitness on the outfield, and the club are keen to take it easy and get him back on track for the long haul. “He is on the field, he runs. We’re just building it up and really looking after him,” under-21s manager Barry Lewtas said earlier this month.

As for Calvin Ramsay, you may have wondered where he stands having lost the last seven teams of the first team day.

The Scotland right-back played for the Under-21 side on 8 January but was sent off after just 22 minutes and his last academy appearance was on 22 January, playing all 90.

Meanwhile, James Milner has replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold and it would come as no surprise to see loan interest emerge for the 19-year-old this month.