Liverpool’s 10 players are now putting the finishing touches on their Euro 2024 preparations.
Along with four stars traveling to the Copa America in the United States, the Reds have a double-digit number of players bound for Germany.
With so many of the first-team players away dreaming of glory for their countries, it stands to reason that not everyone will be an automatic starter.
Clearly, this does not apply to Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, or Andy Robertson. All three will proudly skipper their respective countries throughout the following month.
Others, however, will not have an assured position in their respective squads. And Cody Gakpo, in particular, may have simply lost it.
Cody Gakpo’s Netherlands squad is in peril.
With Euro 2024 approaching, Liverpool fans will have lots to look forward to. We’d all rather be seeing Arne Slot’s first appearances at Anfield, but this will suffice.
Robertson and Scotland begin the competition against hosts Germany on Friday evening in Munich. That will be an occasion.
Liverpool fans who do not have a horse in the race should have little trouble deciding which side to support. It must be the Netherlands.
They are led by Liverpool legend Van Dijk, and they also have two more Reds players: Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch. Gravenberch had his first start in nearly three years on Thursday and appeared to do reasonably well.
Gakpo was one of the players that did not play in the 4-0 triumph over Canada. Instead, the 25-year-old got a start in Monday’s win over Iceland.
With so much chopping and changing, Ronald Koeman is clearly still trying to figure out his best team. And, according to Dutch outlet AD, that may no longer include Gakpo.
Despite scoring a respectable six points five out of 10 and being judged to have’showed himself,’ the Liverpool forward was replaced by Donyell Malen with 15 minutes remaining. Malen scored, as did fellow substitute Wout Weghorst.
This is noticed by AD, who suggests that Gakpo will now have to face’strong competition’ to get started in Germany.
Although Gakpo’s form for Liverpool had been inconsistent during the season, the national team had frequently provided him with much-needed rest.
However, bad form will not go overlooked for long. With a major event approaching, Gakpo must step up his game.
Fortunately, the former PSV Eindhoven player still has one card to play in his back pocket. He excelled in the most recent international tournament for the Netherlands.
Gakpo’s performances in the 2022 World Cup may have influenced Liverpool’s decision to sign him the following January.
If he can repeat this performance in Germany, he’ll be in the starting lineup in no time.
However, if Gakpo fails to spark while others around him do, he will almost certainly return to the bench. Cody’s chances of hitting the ground running under Slot will depend on the direction in which he swings.
