Liverpool given harsh Cody Gakpo criticism as commentator evaluates Netherlands form

Landon Donovan, the onetime Everton player now providing TV commentary for FOX at Euro 2024, suggested on Friday that Liverpool was failing to get the most out of forward Cody Gakpo.

As Donovan worked on the broadcast of France vs Netherlands, he marveled at Gakpo's form within the Dutch team compared to what he did this past campaign at Liverpool.

"He looks like a completely different player than we've seen at Liverpool," Donovan said after Gakpo put a first-half shot on target. "He's confident, taking people on."

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Gakpo, 25, made 17 Premier League starts in his first full season at Liverpool, contributing eight goals and five assists in the division. He added eight goals in other competitions, including four in the Europa League.

Even before the high-profile clash with France, the versatile Dutch star had earned praise for his work with the Netherlands in his Euro 2024 opener against Poland. "I thought Gakpo played great. It went very well on the left side and we became very threatening there," said Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman about Gakpo's effort in that game, via De Telegraaf.

Some of Gakpo's moderate goal production this past season at Liverpool came down to Jurgen Klopp sometimes using him in less advanced positions. Among forwards in Europe's top five leagues, Gakpo ranked near the top in most significant playmaking categories, including shot-creating actions, progressive passes and non-penalty expected goals.

As a result, he has taken a positive mindset on how his career has progressed, even if he hasn't yet hit the heights he's aspired to reach after a fabulous World Cup in Qatar to burst onto the global scene. In this way, he might find Donovan's remarks on his Liverpool record to be harsh.

"My condition has improved in terms of the pace I can handle and also the intensity," Gakpo said recently about his evolution since transferring to Liverpool from PSV. "I’m not one for data, but if I compare my stats at Liverpool to my stats at PSV, you can see that the high-intensity distance per match is now much higher. It depends on the coach where I will be used as well as the system, of course."

Liverpool.com says: While Gakpo's international form is brilliant, it doesn't need to be used as a weapon against what he's done with Liverpool. Having only spent one full season at the club, there remains ample opportunity for him to take a massive step forward with the Reds, and fans can be encouraged rather than upset about what he's doing on the international stage this month.