Jamie Carragher has claimed that Cody Gakpo’s display for Liverpool against Manchester United on Sunday was a ‘revelation.’
Gakpo was scintillating against United. Opening the scoring with a lovely effort, he then dinked a beautiful close-range chip over David de Gea to put Liverpool 3-0 ahead.
More than that though, the 23-year-old’s all-round play was sharp and quick. On the week it was announced that Roberto Firmino would soon be leaving Anfield, Gakpo showed that the Reds are in safe hands moving forward.
Carragher certainly thinks so anyway. Speaking on Sky Sports Monday Night Football via Football Daily last night, the Liverpool legend lauded the Dutchman’s performance.
“He [Gakpo] for me was the big revelation from the game yesterday, and maybe a sign that there may be a new front three for Liverpool blossoming right now,” gushed the pundit.
Gakpo comes of age at Liverpool
Ahead of Sunday’s game against United, there was real emotion surrounding Firmino’s decision to leave. The Brazilian has become a genuine legend over eight years at Liverpool and will be sorely missed.
But with that in mind, Gakpo – and indeed Darwin Nunez – showed exactly why it’s the correct decision moving forward.
So far, both of Liverpool’s new forward players have done well in patches. Neither have shown up just yet in the biggest of games, though.
In Gakpo’s case, that’s purely because he hasn’t had the opportunity to. He got a nice tap-in in the Merseyside Derby, but didn’t effect that game too much otherwise. Sunday was his first chance to show what he can do in the biggest one of all for the Reds. And, wow, did he take it.
A goal against Everton gave him a good platform to build from. But if you want to win over Liverpool fans as a new signing, there’s no better way than to bag against Manchester United. Actually, there is a better way – bag twice against Manchester United.
That Nunez did the same only adds to the excitement that Liverpool could have found themselves their next great forward line. We can’t get ahead of ourselves, it is only one game after all. But after a difficult start for Gakpo – and for Darwin – Sunday felt like a statement that their time is now coming. And just wait until we add Luis Diaz into the mix, too. Phew!
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
