Luis Garcia expressed his dissatisfaction with Cody Gakpo’s performance following Liverpool’s last-minute victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday.
Despite the Reds facing numerous injuries to key players, Gakpo was deployed in the central position of the front three against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Nevertheless, Liverpool had to rely on Darwin Nunez’s 99th-minute header to clinch a crucial three points in the Premier League title race.
At that point in the match, Gakpo had been substituted for the young Jayden Danns. Regrettably, it turned out to be a lackluster performance for the 24-year-old. He failed to find the target with his only two shots on goal and his performance notably declined in the second half.
During a discussion on ESPN, Luis Garcia remarked that it was indeed a challenging day for the Dutch player.
“Gakpo today, struggled so much. We saw him a couple of times in the middle, rushing things. He didn’t have the composure that he’s done at other times,” he said.
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Gakpo’s recent performances have failed to meet expectations. Although he offers versatility in Liverpool’s attacking lineup, he hasn’t consistently operated as the primary striker.
Despite this, he’s only managed to score two goals in his last 11 matches across all competitions. This level of productivity isn’t sufficient if he aims to play a significant role in Liverpool’s pursuit of the title.
On the other hand, Nunez has been more prolific in front of goal this season. The Uruguayan striker has scored twice as many goals as Gakpo in the Premier League and has also provided double the number of assists in the same number of appearances.
Nunez’s return from injury is undoubtedly a significant boost for Liverpool. It’s hoped that his presence will elevate the performance of the team’s attacking unit, including Gakpo, by creating more opportunities and increasing their effectiveness in front of goal.
