Ronald Koeman suggests Cody Gakpo made Liverpool move too early from PSV after 'difficult' start
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Published 08/02/2023 at 15:53 GMT
Cody Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window after being one of the standout players at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, Gakpo's arrival has not transformed Liverpool's fortunes and he is yet to score for his new club. Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman thinks the move has been "difficult" for Gakpo and a more experienced player might have fared better.
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Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has questioned whether Cody Gakpo joined Liverpool too early.
Gakpo, 23, moved to Anfield from PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window after a breakout World Cup where he scored three goals in five matches.
But he has been in and out of the starting XI and is yet to score in six starts in all competitions.
Koeman believes it has not helped that Gakpo has joined a Liverpool side who are struggling for form and are yet to win in the league in 2023.
“He has ended up in a team that is not doing well," said Koeman on a
.
“Then it becomes more difficult for him, as a new signing. You are tested right away, and if you don't score or you're not important and you don't win any matches, it's very difficult, especially for a young player.
“If that's was someone aged 28 with experience, it would be different.
“The level in England is higher than in the Netherlands, but they are also young boys, aren't they? Like [Ryan] Gravenberch going to Bayern [Munich] and not playing. Then that is difficult.”
Gakpo had scored nine goals and made 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie matches for PSV this season before joining Liverpool.
Liverpool’s next game is a Merseyside derby clash with Everton on Monday.
Koeman started his second stint in charge of the Netherlands on January 1 and his first games will be Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and Gibraltar in March.
Netherlands were beaten by eventual champions Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
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