Cody Gakpo: How Liverpool forward developed into crucial figure for Arne Slot's Premier League leaders

Cody Gakpo may go into Liverpool's derby game with Manchester United thinking what could have been. A different shade of red, perhaps?

On Boxing Day, the Dutchman celebrated two years since his Liverpool arrival from PSV Eindhoven - though his story would have very different had Erik ten Hag successfully took him to Manchester United earlier in 2022.

"I think it was the summer before that I was in contact with the club and spoke to the manager as well, obviously he's Dutch," he told Sky Sports at the start of 2024.

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"But, at the end it didn't go through and that's just it. And in the winter Liverpool came. Best decision for me."

It looks like some decision. With United coming into Sunday's game at Anfield floundering in the bottom half - and forwards Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford struggling for form, minutes or even appreciation from the home fans - Gakpo has emerged as a key cog in Arne Slot's league leaders.

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And even though Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool's star performer in attack this season - there is absolutely no doubt about that - Slot is equally right to ask the question: Where would his side be without Gakpo?

Salah may be leading the scoring and assist charts with 37 goal involvements so far this season. Gakpo, meanwhile, has contributed just five Premier League goals to Liverpool's title charge - but pretty much all of them have been at crucial moments.

Three of his goals have been equalisers with Liverpool 1-0 down and struggling at home. All big moments, all helping Liverpool gain points, all - coincidentally - in front of the Kop.

The Boxing Day leveller to change the game against Leicester, two more against Fulham and Brighton. There was also the opener in what was once a title race showdown with Manchester City. On top of that, there's the result-sealing strike over Real Madrid in the Champions League. He also has four goals in three Carabao Cup games so far.

All in all, Gakpo's ability to turn up for Liverpool in multiple competitions is best shown by him averaging the most shot-creation actions per 90 minutes out of any forward in Slot's side. Not even Salah has contributed as much as Gakpo across the entire board.

Gakpo's form epitomises how Slot has improved this Liverpool team without needing to turn to the transfer market. Like other players such as Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch, the Dutchman looked a little lost settling into Liverpool life under Jurgen Klopp.

Part of his transformation towards being a key player is down to his move to the left wing. The forward largely played in that role at PSV Eindhoven but former Liverpool boss Klopp preferred him anywhere but there.

It was six months ago, after Klopp left Liverpool and Gakpo went off to Euro 2024 with the Netherlands, when the 25-year-old found his old self again.

"At the Euros, I played as a left winger again. Then this season the new manager came in, I had a talk with him and he said, 'you have to focus on the left winger position - this is your position when you come on or when you start'," said Gakpo earlier this season.

"Because he said there's a lot of competition here, so you just have to show yourself. But he said, 'that is going to be your position'.

"It felt a little bit, for me, like the old me, like what I did at PSV as well. I feel really good in this position. I try to show my best to everybody, what I'm capable of.

"I think I come into more one-vs-ones now with my face towards the opponent, where I can really go inside and give a cross, shoot or go outside and give a cross - which is more my game, I would say, and where I think I can be really dangerous and help the team the most."

Gakpo has developed into a real clutch player for Liverpool, but this is becoming a real crunch time for Arne Slot's Reds.

With eight games in January and some tricky challenges ahead, the Dutchman may be needed more than ever if Liverpool are to fly high across all competitions.

Watch Liverpool vs Man Utd live on Sky Sports Premier League this Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm. Stream the game with a NOW TV pass.