A Liverpool fan has leapt to the defence of Cody Gakpo after footage of a game-changing incident during an FA Cup encounter with Manchester United re-emerged.
On Sunday United claimed a dramatic 4-3 FA Cup victory over Liverpool courtesy of an Amad Diallo winner in stoppage time of extra time.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had been moments away from progressing to the semi-finals, having led in the 87th minute of normal time and again in the 112th minute of extra time, only for United to equalise twice before conjuring up an astonishing winner.
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After the game, Liverpool fans on social media were ruing their several opportunities to put the game out of sight in the second half.
Indeed, Gakpo has been among the main lightning rods for criticism, after the Dutchman appeared to squander a five-against-two counterattack in the 78th minute.
Gakpo has been widely criticised for taking too much time to release the ball. When he ultimately played a pass to Harvey Elliott, it was under-hit, which allowed the United players to return to their positions.
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However, one Liverpool supporter has leapt to Gakpo’s defence after analysing the wasted opportunity.
Writing on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter, Liverpool fan and broadcaster Nubaid Haroon said: “If Bradley overlaps - Elliott plays it early into Gakpo to shoot first time - we’re not talking about this situation.
“This one isn’t on Gakpo. He’s low on confidence, not playing well and I feel for him. But are people piling into him on social media? Completely unacceptable.”
In response to a fan insisting Gakpo should have committed Victor Lindelof into making a challenge before playing the pass, Haroon added: “Yeah there’s that too, the timing was slightly off but the more he drives into space the more he becomes reliant on other players making runs into the right spaces and then having to execute a harder pass.”
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When another claimed Gakpo had passed it to the wrong player, with Darwin Nunez having been free on goal, Haroon added: “Angle of the pass is harder to close his foot on it and play it to his left. Typically Cody plays most things to his right side - pretty normal. And also, he’d be putting Nunez onto his left too either way.
“I think he plays it to Harvey Elliott, Connor Bradley overlaps and the angle opens up.”
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: Liverpool, Manchester United, FA Cup, Cody Gakpo, Jurgen Klopp, Fan Reactions
