The developing partnership between Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo offered one of few encouraging signs for Liverpool in their 2-0 victory over West Ham. Both players’ tendency to drift to the left side has begun showing promise in their combination play, even if the final product remains below expectations for players of their quality and price tags.
Wirtz’s preference for operating on the left half-space rather than centrally has created natural overlap with Gakpo’s movements. Against West Ham, their understanding was evident in several passages of play, with quick exchanges and intelligent positioning creating spaces that Liverpool haven’t consistently found this season. The partnership is developing, even if it’s not yet producing consistently.
The assist for Alexander Isak’s opening goal demonstrated this emerging understanding. Wirtz’s composed pass found Gakpo in space, and the Dutch forward’s cutback was perfectly weighted for Isak’s finish. The move flowed naturally, suggesting genuine connection between the players rather than forced combination play. As familiarity increases, such moments should become more frequent.
However, significant development remains necessary. Wirtz has yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League despite his £100 million-plus price tag, while Gakpo’s contributions, though occasionally important, lack the consistency expected from a forward at an elite club. Both players need to translate their technical quality and improving partnership into decisive end product.
The fact that both players favor the left side also creates tactical challenges. When they occupy similar spaces, the pitch can become unbalanced, leaving other areas under-populated. Manager Arne Slot needs to find solutions that allow them to combine effectively while maintaining team shape. If this partnership can be refined and made more productive, Liverpool will have a valuable creative axis to build around. For now, it represents promise rather than proven success.
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