The laughable amount Liverpool paid for Cody Gakpo, half of what Darwin Nunez cost

The winter transfer window has its first big post-World Cup signing: Cody Mathès Gakpo (Eindhoven, 7-5-1999). PSV have made his transfer to Liverpool official. The transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano, has been closed at 42 million fixed and 14 million variable. It would therefore become the most expensive sale in the Eindhoven club's history, replacing 'Chucky' Lozano, who left for Napoli in 2019 for €45m.

The PSV winger was one of the biggest sensations at Qatar 2022. He was instrumental in helping the Netherlands reach the quarter-finals. Gakpo scored three goals for the 'Oranje' at the World Cup. With PSV he was having a great season: he had a total of 13 goals and 17 assists in 24 games in all competitions. In the Eredivisie, he was the undisputed 'king': he was also top scorer with 9 goals and top assists with 12 assists.

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Gakpo will therefore be able to face Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. He will cover, a priori, the absence due to injury of Luis Diaz. He joins a devastating attack. It should be remembered that 'Pool' also has 'Mo' Salah, Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota (injured), Roberto Firmino and Fábio Carvalho. Liverpool defeated Aston Villa (1-3) in a spectacular match thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah ('5), Virgil van Dijk ('37) and Galician Stefan Bajcetic ('81) and are closing in on Europe. Only one point separates them from Manchester United, who are fifth and would play in the Europa League.

The start of the match was frenetic. It was somewhat reminiscent of the 7-2 thrashing Villa put on Pool two years ago. The Reds, without Firmino, Luis Díaz, Diogo Jota, Konaté, Arthur and Milner, were already ahead after just five minutes. Alexander-Arnold broke through the defence with a surgical outside-of-the-foot pass from midfield, Robertson fed the ball through and 'Mo' Salah slotted the ball past Robin Olsen, who was replacing Emiliano Martinez, still on tour in Argentina.

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It was a goal with a double ephemeris. Robertson (54) overtook Leighton Baines (53) as the defender with the most assists in Premiership history. Meanwhile, Salah (172) equalled 'Kenny' Dalglish as the seventh highest goalscorer in Pool history. Emery, meanwhile, despaired at Watkins and Bailey's failings on the wing. Liverpool breathed a sigh of relief when Virgil van Dijk made it 0-2 after 37 minutes. Salah picked up a 'dead ball' after three failed Villa clearances and the former Celtic and Southampton man scored with a shot that deflected off Mings before going in.