Emile Heskey questions Cody Gakpo role and Liverpool transfer calls

Emile Heskey has questioned how Liverpool are using Cody Gakpo, while also expressing frustration over two transfer decisions he believes could yet come back to haunt his former club.

The former Reds striker feels Gakpo is being deployed out of position and argues Liverpool are missing the qualities Luis Díaz once brought to the left flank. Heskey also admitted disappointment that Liverpool failed to rival Manchester City for Marc Guéhi, who has since impressed following his January move.

Gakpo has posted solid numbers since arriving at Anfield, scoring 16 and 18 goals across his first two full seasons in all competitions. While he remains on course for double figures again this campaign, his form has dipped alongside a Liverpool side enduring a testing season.

By contrast, Díaz has thrived since leaving Merseyside. Now at Bayern Munich, the Colombian winger has registered 28 goal contributions for the Bundesliga champions following his £65.5m summer move.

Heskey believes the contrast between Díaz’s impact and Gakpo’s role highlights a structural issue in Liverpool’s attack.

“Liverpool miss Luis Díaz on the left-hand side,” Heskey said. “He gave them that relentlessness with chasing and hassling, and was really good at taking players on and making defenders feel like they’ve got no time to think.

“Liverpool had grown used to having players like Díaz and Sadio Mané on the left, who were both persistent in their pressing.”

He suggested Gakpo’s skill set does not naturally suit that role.

“They now have Cody Gakpo in that position who is a totally different player. I see Gakpo as a striker or attacking midfielder and not a left winger, so there’s clearly a question of whether he’s a good enough fit for the position at the moment.”

Having followed Liverpool closely this season, the shift in profile on the left has been noticeable. Where Díaz and Mané thrived on aggression and intensity, Gakpo’s strengths lie more in link play, movement between lines and finishing in central areas.

Liverpool were initially reluctant to sanction Díaz’s departure after he scored 17 goals in all competitions during their Premier League title-winning campaign under Arne Slot. Early approaches from Barcelona and Bayern Munich were both rejected.

However, the club’s stance softened when Bayern returned with an offer exceeding £65m for the 28-year-old, who had already rejected two contract extensions and made clear his desire to leave. Liverpool judged the fee too strong to ignore, particularly given Díaz’s age profile.

In response, the Reds invested heavily in attack, bringing in Alexander Isak for £125m, Florian Wirtz for £116m and Hugo Ekitike for £79m. Defensive reinforcements, however, proved more elusive.

Liverpool’s failure to land Guéhi has also drawn criticism from Heskey. A £35m deal for the Crystal Palace captain collapsed late in the summer window, and Liverpool did not return with a renewed bid in January.

Manchester City did, securing the England international last month. Guéhi underlined his quality with an assured performance at Anfield on Sunday, prompting further frustration.

“Marc Guéhi is a fantastic player and I’m very disappointed Liverpool didn’t follow up with their summer offer in January,” Heskey said. “For him to turn up at Manchester City made me think, ‘what’s happened there?’

“He’s a very solid and intelligent defender who understands how to slow games down, but also how to build up play from the back.”

Guéhi’s background at Chelsea and composure at the highest level only sharpen the sense that he could have been an ideal fit for Liverpool’s defensive needs.

Liverpool now face important decisions around balance rather than spending. How Slot deploys Gakpo over the coming weeks will be closely watched, particularly as fixtures intensify and pressing demands increase.

Defensively, the Guéhi episode may also influence summer planning. If Liverpool struggle for consistency at the back, questions will only grow louder about whether January represented a missed opportunity to strengthen decisively.

Is Cody Gakpo being misused, or does Liverpool’s system need to evolve around him?