Spirits will need lifting at Anfield after a costly Premier League title race slip-up at Old Trafford. Having already won the Carabao Cup, the Europa League represents another important opportunity to clinch silverware in Klopp’s final season at the helm.
The German could look to rotate on Thursday, given that his side will be back in domestic action at home to Crystal Palace less than three days later. And Gakpo is among the players who may stand to benefit.
The Dutchman was forced to settle for a 20-minute cameo off the bench in the 2-2 draw with United, but Thompson feels he may have done enough in recent weeks to warrant a spot in the starting XI.
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“In the FA Cup [last month], Cody came on against Manchester United and he looked devoid of ideas,” he told The Official Liverpool FC Podcast. “Today [against United], he looked hungry, he looked as though he wanted to be part of it.
“Whether he learned from what happened at Old Trafford and thought ‘wow’. Today, and certainly against Sheffield United, he made a big impression also. So he might be calling to play instead of Darwin, something like that.”
Gakpo has not started for Liverpool since scoring twice in the 6-1 demolition of Sparta Prague almost a month ago. Reds legend Jamie Carragher was among those to criticise his performance against United in the recent 4-3 FA Cup defeat, saying the 24-year-old was ‘playing like the game is in slow motion’.
That aside, cup competitions have been a sanctuary for Gakpo due to the competition for Premier League minutes in attack. Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah have each proven difficult to displace when fit, and Gakpo has made more substitute appearances than starts in the league as a result.
The versatile forward has managed five goal contributions in only 456 Europa League minutes, as well as netting four times in six Carabao Cup appearances. Overall, Gakpo has been a useful option for Klopp since completing a £35million move from PSV Eindhoven last January.
Liverpool are favourites to win the Europa League, even over Bundesliga high-flyers Bayer Leverkusen. Thursday’s opponents Atalanta are sixth in Serie A and come into the clash off the back of two consecutive defeats.
