Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo says he almost joined Manchester United in 2022 before the Red Devils decided to sign Antony instead.
Dutch forward Gakpo eventually joined Liverpool in January 2023 and has been in fine form for the Reds this term, scoring 14 goals in all competitions.
The 25-year-old is a regular in Arne Slot’s side and a fan favourite at Anfield. In contrast, Antony is currently on loan at Real Betis after a torrid time since his £86m move from Ajax.
But things could have gone very differently had Gakpo sealed a move to Old Trafford from PSV Eindhoven in 2022.
Speaking to the Players’ Tribune, Gakpo said: “Around that time [2022], I started hearing rumors of a move to England. Now, everybody who knows me, knows I am a man guided by my faith.
“So, one day, I had a meeting with the pastor from my church back in Holland, and he brought a friend who was a pastor somewhere else.
“This other pastor said, ‘Can I tell you something?’ I said of course. This was before any big clubs had come knocking on my door. And he said that God told him that I would go to Liverpool. I kind of laughed it off like, Yeah, nice, we will see about that. There was already a little bit of interest from Manchester United, so I thought, We’ll see.
“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.
Cody Gakpo is expecting to experience a ‘pretty strange’ feeling when he walks out at PSV Eindhoven as an opposition player tomorrow night 🗣️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 28, 2025
“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.
“It’s a funny story, but in a way, that’s a really important piece of the puzzle. Thank God I stayed because that allowed me to play in the World Cup, which led to Liverpool.”
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PSV return
Gakpo returns to former club PSV on Wednesday night as part of a youthful Reds squad for their final Champions League game.
He is one of the few senior Liverpool players to make the trip and his looking forward to returning to the stadium where he made his name.
He added: “It’s a beautiful moment, a special moment for me, of course. I’m looking forward to being on the pitch tomorrow.
“[It will be] pretty strange. I think I’ve never been in the away dressing room, so it will be the first time and on the other side of the walkout. So, different than I was used to.
“But when the game will start I think all those things will fade away and we all will be focused on the game.
“With the team we have, we are here and we are going for the win. Hopefully, it will be a good game.
“Hopefully [I get] a good reception from the fans. I think I always had a good connection with them, so I’m looking forward to seeing them again tomorrow.
“I got the question from the manager [about staying at home] as well, but I didn’t play one minute against Lille last week [and] also from the manager’s point of view [he knew] that I would probably like to come over here and get some minutes here. So, that’s why I’m here.”
Klopp vs Slot
Liverpool sit top of both the Premier League and Champions League after a hugely impressive season since Slot replaced legendary former boss Jurgen Klopp.
On the differences between the two, Gakpo said: “This process, of course, started under Klopp. Now, Slot is building on that foundation.
“He’s a very down-to-earth manager. Very calm, composed. You can talk to him about football, life, anything.
“He’s so good tactically, and I think we fit well in his system. If you look at our midfield — Curtis, Ryan, Dominik, Wataru, Elliot, Alexis — they’re all complete midfielders.
“They can do it all: Run, win duels, and find each other between the lines. With Klopp we would more often play a long ball and then fight, but now that we’re playing with more patience, and shorter passes, you can fully see how much quality our midfield has.”
