Andoni Iraola Says Cody Gakpo Can Play as a No. 9 for Liverpool

As Liverpool prepares for its Premier League opening fixture against Newcastle United, head coach Andoni Iraola has outlined how the club plans to navigate a thinning attacking roster following a serious injury to Hugo Ekitike. With Ekitike sidelined for several months due to an Achilles injury sustained in April, the tactical burden on Alexander Isak has intensified according to the reporting out of Merseyside. While Isak enters the new campaign looking sharper than last season, the physical demands of leading the line require viable alternatives.

Andoni Iraola Weighs Cody Gakpo as a Central Option

Addressing the press ahead of the weekend trip to St James’ Park, Iraola confirmed that conversations have already taken place with Gakpo regarding a potential shift from the flank to the number nine role. Although the Netherlands international has spent the majority of his Anfield career on the left wing—and spent much of pre-season training in that preferred wide zone due to a lack of specialist wingers—the coaching staff views him as the most experienced senior option to cover the center-forward position as detailed by This Is Anfield.

“I think Cody can play as a number nine. In pre-season, we haven’t tried it because we don’t have enough wingers, probably. And we have prioritised that he understands what we need from him in his preferred position, if you want, as a left-winger. But I’ve been talking to him about his minutes as a No. 9, not only last season because he’s done it before and in certain situations I think he could help us there in the No. 9 position, yes.”
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool Head Coach

According to figures from Transfermarkt cited across match reports, Gakpo has featured through the middle 84 times in his professional career. He initially played centrally upon arriving at Liverpool in January 2024 before eventually reverting to the left flank under former manager Arne Slot, though injury crises toward the end of the previous campaign forced him back into a central role.

Transfer Market Priorities and Squad Depth Constraints

Shifting Gakpo away from his favored left-wing berth is not an immediate tactical preference for the coaching staff, noted Liverpool.com, because doing so creates a shortage of wide attackers unless new signings arrive. Iraola acknowledged that the club must remain active in the market to address specific squad imbalances before the September 1 deadline.

The club remains in ongoing discussions regarding Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, while alternative targets such as Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Ibrahim Mbaye have also been monitored to bolster wide options according to club reporting. When pressed specifically on the pursuit of Barcola and other rumored targets, Iraola maintained a strict boundary regarding external players, stating, We cannot speak about players who are not ours.

IRAOLA: “CODY CAN PLAY AS A NUMBER NINE!” 👀 Newcastle v Liverpool ⚽ Premier League

Behind the senior options, youthful depth remains limited in the immediate term. Academy striker Jayden Danns continues his recovery from a severe run of injuries that disrupted his development over the past 12 months, with a temporary loan move to an Italian club among the options explored according to club sources. Fellow youngster Will Wright is considered another candidate for the future but is currently viewed as better suited to continued development within the Under-21 setup. Versatile attackers such as Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas—who impressed during pre-season sessions—round out the auxiliary forward options available to the coaching staff.

Pre-Season Form and Leadership Appointments

Gakpo returns to competitive action in strong form following encouraging displays for the Netherlands at the World Cup and a sharp pre-season schedule that included scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 friendly victory over Como at Anfield reported the Liverpool Echo. Iraola praised the forward’s tactical intelligence and application since reporting back for training.

“He has been one of our best players in the friendlies. I cannot tell you the starting XI at Newcastle, my players don’t know it so I’ll never say it, but definitely he is in a great spot.”
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool Head Coach

Alongside preparations for the Premier League opener, Iraola confirmed the leadership hierarchy at the club following the departure of former vice-captain Andy Robertson, who completed a free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the window noted the Liverpool Echo. Virgil vanjdt remains club captain, supported by a newly named leadership group consisting of Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, and Dominik Szoboszlai. However, Iraola clarified that goalkeeper Alisson will not wear the armband on the pitch due to new officiating regulations restricting goalkeepers from approaching referees in opposing penalty areas to discuss match decisions.