Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Fri 1 May 2026 16:30, UK

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Cody Gakpo is among many Liverpool players to have endured a difficult season amid a clear decline across the board.

The Netherlands international was superb under Arne Slot last season, scoring 18 goals across all competitions as the Reds won the Premier League.

But it has been a battle just to secure Champions League football this season, and Liverpool arguably only find themselves on the verge of doing it now due to other teams’ failures.

Gakpo had started the season well and signed a new long-term contract in August, securing his future at Anfield.

The Liverpool forward’s form has dropped off spectacularly since that deal was signed, but he is now looking to rediscover the form he showed last season.

WHOOP is Cody Gakpo’s recovery secret

Virgil van Dijk uses WHOOP – a wearable technology made to monitor sleep, stress, strain, recovery and much more – to maintain his staggering fitness record.

But the gadget does not just help extend careers and optimise recovery. The likes of Gakpo have used it to constantly strive for higher levels of performance.

The winger can almost always be spotted sporting white tape on his right wrist during Liverpool games.

It is under here that he wears WHOOP, which monitors his physical performance throughout each and every appearance and later advises him on both recovery and preparation to push further.

It will be part of Gakpo’s plan to return to the levels he showed last season, as Liverpool look to bounce back next season.

It is not just the Reds who use the technology. PSG recently announced a long-term partnership with WHOOP, and the face of football fitness, Cristiano Ronaldo, is also a long-time supporter.

Gakpo can become Liverpool’s main man next season

With Mohamed Salah set to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer, there is a space available as the main man at Anfield.

So far, Gakpo has not shown an ability to rack up the type of extraordinary numbers – 34 goals across all competitions – that the Egyptian put up last season, but he can certainly lead Slot’s side forward.

With Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz still adapting to life at Anfield, Salah’s exit has called for the step up of a forward who knows what it means to play for Liverpool.

With Gakpo entering his prime, it feels as if his time to take that next step has finally arrived.