Cody Gakpo reckons Liverpool sold the best passer of a football he’s ever seen

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Liverpool are flying high in the Premier League, winning all of their seven games so far in all competitions – and they have done it without one of their most important players from last season.

After winning the Premier League last season, Arne Slot’s side have strengthened significantly with the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz and £125m record transfer for Alexander Isak.

Also incoming was Jeremie Frimpong at right-back to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who risked tarnishing his Liverpool legacy with a free transfer move to Real Madrid.

Liverpool did get a small fee for Alexander-Arnold to allow him to represent Madrid at the Club World Cup, however his exit has been a loss to Slot’s system with his range of passing and movement into midfield.

Cody Gakpo says former Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold is the best passer he has played with

Taking part in a quick-fire interview with Goal, Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo was asked to name the first player he could think of to a number of questions.

One question was the ‘best passer of the ball he has ever seen’, and Gakpo wasted no time in naming Alexander-Arnold.

While Liverpool fans may still dislike Alexander-Arnold for the manner of his exit, in which he ran down his contract to leave on a free transfer, his former teammates clearly still rate him.

Alexander-Arnold was due to reunite with his old club in the Champions League in November, but he faces a race against time to be fit after suffering an injury that could keep him out until that game.

Cody Gakpo can’t resist digs at Manchester United and shows appreciation for Lionel Messi

Asked which player he wanted to be growing up, Cody Gakpo instantly answered with Lionel Messi, and gave the same response to the best player he ever played against.

That meeting came in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, with Gakpo’s Netherlands scoring two late goals to force extra time before Messi’s Argentina prevailed on penalties.

Gakpo named that game as the best he’s been involved in, despite the defeat, but also made sure to fire a dig at Manchester United by bringing up Liverpool’s 7-0 victory over their rivals in 2023.

Not content with just one mention of the 7-0 game, Gakpo also said his second goal in that match was the best he has ever scored.