Mohamed Salah announced his exit from L4 a couple of months before the season even wrapped, and honestly, you gotta figure most Liverpool fans were thinking replacing him was priority number one for the summer. And yeah, the Reds did bring in two new attackers. But here’s the wild part: neither of them are natural right-wingers! Suddenly, Liverpool is rocking four left-wingers in their first-team squad. Talk about a curveball! Fans were definitely annoyed about not signing a direct Salah replacement, but it feels like Richard Hughes, before he even stepped away, somehow pulled off the impossible: finding the successor in plain sight with Cody Gakpo.
Cody Gakpo Is the Unsung Hero Keeping Liverpool Rolling
People were scratching their heads, right? Four left-wingers when you just lost a legend from the right side of the pitch. But versatility is king in modern football, and unless Gakpo gets sidelined by some nasty injury, he’s looking like *the* consistent force in that lineup. From the absolute jump of the 2026-27 season, Gakpo has been absolutely crucial, the kind of player you build around. His goals and assists are the literal reason Liverpool’s unbeaten record is still intact. Have you seen him link up with Alexander Isak? Pure magic on the field, a sight to behold every single game. And that 90-minute shift against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, where Liverpool snagged a commanding 3-1 win? That was another excellent performance. He was part of two of Liverpool’s goals and even dropped two crucial key passes throughout the game. Remember just last season, it looked like the Dutchman had maybe gone past his best? Forget that noise. Under Andoni Iraola, he looks like a completely different player, revitalized and absolutely electric. That keen eye for goal and his undeniable leadership skills? Those are two massive reasons why Gakpo could legitimately end up being Liverpool’s long-term replacement for Salah. It’s a comeback story unfolding right before our eyes.
The Wild Goose Chase For a Right-Winger That Never Mattered
It’s not like the Anfield outfit didn’t try to fix their right-wing problem. Liverpool tried their very best to sign Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr this summer. These were some last-ditch moves, making it crystal clear the club knew that not having a natural right-winger among their ranks was a serious issue. But when you’re that desperate, other clubs smell blood. They took full advantage, trying their absolute best to squeeze as much money as possible out of the Reds. Of the two options they were chasing, Minteh, who’s already scored 27 goals throughout his career, was definitely the more exciting choice. His age and experience made him stand out. Sarr? He’s going to turn 29 pretty soon, and let’s be real, he hasn’t managed to score more than nine Premier League goals in a season yet. It’s pretty clear he’s reached his ceiling, you know? And here’s the kicker: each of these players would have cost Liverpool an extortionate amount of money in 2027. All that effort, all that potential cash, and for what? So Gakpo could step up and make everyone forget about the chase anyway? Absolute genius, whether it was planned or just incredible luck.
So, yeah, fans might have been annoyed about not getting a direct Salah replacement, but look at what’s happening now. Gakpo is absolutely playing out of his mind. He’s not just filling a void; he’s owning that spot and making it his own. This is why you trust the process sometimes, even when it looks like a total head-scratcher. What’s next for Liverpool? Keep that unbeaten streak going, and let Gakpo keep dazzling us with his form. The future looks incredibly bright for the Reds, even with four left-wingers dominating the attack!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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