Steven Gerrard is probably the most influential and peerless Liverpool affiliate of the 21st century, and that reputation isn’t going to budge.
Maybe, Trent Alexander-Arnold stood a chance of knocking his hero away from top spot, but he’d have needed to devote the entirety of his career to his boyhood club to achieve this, and instead will sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer aged 26.
Trent’s decision heightens the situation going on at both of Liverpool’s defensive flanks. Andy Robertson, 31, still has a year left on his deal but has waned in influence and security this term, and heirs are being considered ahead of the transfer window.
Despite the issues Liverpool have faced at left-back, Cody Gakpo has still managed to go from strength to strength on the left wing, lacking the desirable stream of creative support though he has.
Cody Gakpo's season in numbers
It’s interesting that Gakpo should have hit his smoothest stride in a Liverpool shirt this season despite Robertson’s declining creative output.
This isn’t to say that the left-back has completely lost his way, but there’s no question things have been taken down a notch. That’s not true in Gakpo’s case, though, with his efforts this year leading to a return of 17 goals and six assists across all competitions, including 29 starts.
A shrewd and dynamic grtasp of the fundamentals had led Jurgen Klopp to play the Dutchman across a wide range of roles last season, but Arne Slot has shaved the fat off Gakpo’s game, limited him to a goalscoring duty off the left flank.
Centre-forward
27
12
4
Left winger
12
3
3
Right winger
7
1
0
Central midfield
7
0
0
It’s paid dividends, with pundits Joe Cole and Peter Crouch agreeing that he has “gone up another level” in his countryman’s tactical set-up.
As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, highlighting Slot’s success in sharpening his clinical edge into something keen and deadly.
Robertson still plays his part, crisp in possession and with a close-knit connection with Virgil van Dijk, but Liverpool are ready to sign an upgrade who could take Gakpo to the next level.
Liverpool chasing new left-back
Following the latest from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are indeed ready to address their left-back conundrum after Robertson’s up-and-down season, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez at the top of the shopping list.
With the Cherries, who are pushing for Europe, ready to sell the 21-year-old for a £45m figure, this is one FSG will be giving their full consideration to.
However, Kerkez is the prototypical modern full-back and would make Slot’s system that much better.
Imagine Gakpo & Milos Kerkez together
Gakpo is chiefly a goalscorer, but he’s also a forward of impressive physicality, causing problems for opponents and getting stuck in with duels and dribbles.
Kerkez will take his game to the next level.
The Bournemouth man might only be young but he’s made quite the name for himself across the past year, posting two goals and five assists in the Premier League this year, creating eight big chances, as per Sofascore, winning 60% of his ground duels and averaging 4.5 ball recoveries per game.
Also ranking among the top 14% of full-backs in the English top flight this term for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, the Hungary international has the burners to apply pressure on his opponents ahead of him, thus allowing Gakpo the time and space to find better positions and maybe lift his goal tally even higher next year.
It’s worth noting Robertson, having failed to register a goal contribution in the league this year, has averaged 0.2 dribbles per game, evening out to one every five matches.
Luckily, Gakpo has stepped up and produced the goods, impressively winning 56% of his ground duels, completing 60% of his dribbles and missing just six big chances in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, having converted nine strikes.
With something young and hungry behind him, overlapping and proving a general thorn in his opponents’ sides, Kerkez is exactly what Liverpool need, having already been singled out as a “machine” by Sky Sports’ Izzy Christansen for his tireless and combative performances.
Kerkez’s strengths as an attacking full-back are exactly what Slot needs, perhaps demonstrating a style of football that Robertson would have been able to match and even surpass back in his pomp, but Father Time has crept up on the Scotland skipper after so many years of gruelling service at Liverpool.
While Robertson should keep his place in the Liverpool squad (meaning Kostas Tsimikas will need to be sold), Kerkez should find himself taking the first-choice spot, not only completing the defence and restoring some much-needed creativity to the wide positions but driving Gakpo’s journey even further into the limelight.
Athletic and adventurous, Kerkez has dazzled for Bournemouth this season, a core part of Andoni Iraola’s efforts and, just maybe, success in securing a place on the continent for the first time in the Vitality Stadium’s history.
But Liverpool need a new left-back, and he fits the bill. Bringing such pace and potency down the channel, such energy and enthusiasm, Kerkez would be sure to elevate Gakpo’s game to the next level, striking the perfect balance that could see Slot defend his Premier League crown.
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