Cody Gakpo in the midfield is a failed experiment

Jurgen Klopp loves players that can play multiple positions on the pitch as situations arise. However, the ability to adapt on the fly and rotate for a time is different then starting in a foreign spot. That is currently what’s happening with Cody Gakpo on the left-side of the midfield.

Liverpool’s lack of a true No. 6 before the arrival of Wataru Endo saw the boss playing Alexis Mac Allister out of position himself to sit deeper. As a result, he deemed Gakpo the best option to fill one of the holes in midfield.

However, it’s one thing to have Gakpo playing a false 9 role and dropping from attack to midfield to receive the ball and begin the attack.

He has looked lost in the first two Premier League matches as he lacks the defensive awareness to track and get back. In possession, he doesn’t seem to know where he needs to be at all times.

His talent is being wasted in the center of the park and it is throwing the balance of the side off. Playing two players out of position in midfield is a recipe for disaster.

While the Reds have captured 4 points from a possible 6, there is still something missing in the team. The defense has still been exposed on a multiple occasions because neither Gakpo nor Mac Allister have the first instinct of playing defense.

Heading into the Newcastle match, Endo needs to be inserted into the starting lineup which would allow Mac Allister to move back to his natural midfield role.

As for Gakpo, he could probably do with a match starting from the bench and coming on to aid the attack in the second half.

Allowing him to focus solely on getting forward should restore the level of comfort that we saw down the stretch of last season. He can unlock some things that Diogo Jota cannot. Klopp must know he can’t go into a place like St. James with an unbalanced midfield.

Gakpo would be overrun by the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali. However, given the opportunity to play up top, his dribbling ability and vision in the box could go a long way to unsettling the Magpies defense.

If Liverpool truly want to contend this season, experiments like Gakpo as a left center-mid must be abandoned. The definition of crazy is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

Cody Gakpo does not belong in the midfield. He needs to be restored to the attack whether that is off the bench or a starter. The team is limiting the player and themselves by continuing this plan.

Hopefully come Sunday, Endo is up to speed enough to warrant a start and the Liverpool attack will regain one of their key cogs. It’s the way it needs to be.