Cody Gakpo nearly ruined his chances of joining Liverpool thanks to to an own-goal scored by somebody else.
The Dutchman joined the Reds from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the 2023 January transfer window. He has since made over 100 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 37 goals and is on track for the most prolific campaign of his Merseyside career so far.
But Gakpo might never have become a Liverpool player in the first place. Manchester United, as well as Leeds and Southampton, were both interested in signing him six months earlier.
And Gakpo has now revealed what made him spurn a move initially before choosing to sign for Liverpool. Writing in the Players’ Tribune, Gakpo said: “Then in the summer of 2022, United went for Antony. I was like, What should I do? At this point I could go to Leeds, Southampton, or I could stay at PSV.
“I prayed, and I asked God for guidance. But you see, I had to make sure I got his message. So I said, If I score only one time, I’ll go to Southampton…. If I score two times, I’ll go to Leeds…. If I score three times, I’ll stay.
“The next day we played, and I scored twice. I was also involved in a third goal — and at first, it was called as an own goal. Then I was subbed out. So, two goals, right? I thought, Ah, OK, it’s Leeds then. I was at peace with my decision.
“As I was sitting on the bench, I told my friend, Jordan Teze, who now plays for Monaco, the whole story. He was like, ‘If God wants you to stay, that own goal will be awarded to you.’ It was like a coin toss, waiting to see what they decided. It could have gone either way! But after the game, they gave me the goal. I scored three, so my fate changed. I stayed at PSV.”
The decision to bide his time certainly appears to have benefited Gakpo. He netted seven goals in his first season with Liverpool, following that up with 16 last term as Liverpool won the Carabao Cup in Jurgen Klopp’s final season.
The 25-year-old already has 14 goals last term, with his brace against Ipswich last time out making it five goals in his last six Premier League appearances. He will be aiming to extend that electric form over the coming week.
The Reds travel to Gakpo’s former side PSV in their final Champions League group fixture of the season. They then take on in-form Bournemouth away from home at the weekend.