LIVERPOOL PLAYERS HEAD OFF ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY

Liverpool now face an extended period to reflect on a disappointing week, but for most players, there is no rest as they head off on international duty. Among them is Cody Gakpo, whose fitness continues to raise concerns after his recent struggles with injury and limited impact in recent matches.

Gakpo’s patchy fitness has undoubtedly been a contributing factor to some of Arne Slot’s recent tactical challenges. The Dutch forward was deemed unfit to start against PSG or Newcastle, and when summoned from the bench, he struggled to make a meaningful impact. With injury issues still fresh in his legs, Gakpo’s form has been inconsistent, leaving fans worried about his involvement for the Netherlands in their upcoming match against Spain. If he starts in the international fixture, it will mark his first start since February 12, when he played against Everton, as he has not been able to feature from the beginning since then.

Despite his injury struggles, Gakpo has regained enough fitness to be called up to the Netherlands squad. However, the decision to include him raises questions, especially considering how little playing time he’s had recently. There is a growing concern among fans that the Netherlands coaching staff, led by Ronald Koeman, may not handle his recovery with the necessary caution. Past experiences have shown that players like Ryan Gravenberch, who opted to stay at Liverpool to build fitness instead of joining the under-21s, have faced backlash from the Dutch setup for prioritizing club over country.

Many Liverpool supporters are expressing unease about Gakpo’s international duty. A post on Reddit summed up the sentiment with the comment, “I can’t believe Gakpo is actually going. Man looked like he could barely walk in his last two appearances.” The frustration is clear, as fans worry that Gakpo’s fragile fitness might be put under further strain with no guarantees from Koeman’s side about managing his minutes carefully.

Some Reddit users, however, believe Gakpo might benefit from the opportunity to get some minutes under his belt, especially since other players are more in need of a break. It’s a matter of perspective, as the international window can either offer players a chance to recover or regain some match sharpness.

Liverpool, naturally, would prefer to see all of their players return from international duty unscathed and ready to contribute to their Premier League title chase. With a crucial stretch of the season ahead, having all players fit and energized is vital. The club will likely stay in close communication with the Netherlands camp, given that Slot’s assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, was part of the Dutch national team setup before joining Liverpool.

While Liverpool has little control over Gakpo’s involvement with the Netherlands now that he’s been released to join the squad, there is a hope that the coaching staff will be mindful of his fitness. Liverpool fans can only hope that the international break doesn’t derail Gakpo’s recovery or further disrupt his form.

A full list of Liverpool players on international duty includes: Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Alisson (Brazil), Luis Diaz (Colombia), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah (England), Ibrahima Konate (France), Kostas Tsimikas (Greece), Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary), Wataru Endo (Japan), Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, and Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Diogo Jota (Portugal), Caoimhin Kelleher (Republic of Ireland), Andy Robertson (Scotland), Darwin Nunez (Uruguay), Harvey Elliott (England U21), James McConnell and Trey Nyoni (England Elite League).