Liverpool made it three wins from three in the Champions League this season with an impressive win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
The Reds were not at their sparkling best at the Red Bull Arena, but put in a composed display to earn all three points.
Darwin Nunez’s tap-in following Mohamed Salah’s goal-bound header was the difference in the end, with Liverpool riding their luck at times.
The Reds should have had a penalty shortly after, Nunez chopped down blatantly by Willi Orban inside the area.
But after the referee chose not to award the spot-kick, Liverpool still had plenty more chances to add to the score.
The best of them fell to Cody Gakpo, who really should have beaten former Liverpool goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi from six yards out. The miss did not diminish what was a good performance from Gakpo, though, and the Dutchman earned praise from TNT Sports commentator Lucy Ward.
Cody Gakpo praised for RB Leipzig display
It may have been something of a surprise to some to see Gakpo go again on the left of Liverpool’s forward line in Germany.
The 25-year-old started Sunday’s win over Chelsea, with Luis Diaz resigned to bench duty instead.
As a result, it might have been expected that Diaz would return to the line-up against Leipzig in the Champions League.
However, Arne Slot decided to keep his compatriot in from the start and was rewarded with a lively display from his No.18.
“I think Gakpo’s played well tonight,” said Ward, deep into the second-half.
“It’s not quite as physical as the Premier League and I think he thrives in Europe.”
The only thing keeping Gakpo from getting himself a goal was the inspired Gulacsi, who pulled out another excellent stop just before full-time to tip a long-range effort over the bar.
Cody Gakpo takes his opportunity
Although it was a bit of a surprise to see Gakpo instead of Nunez on Wednesday evening, the former PSV Eindhoven man did his chances of a third consecutive start at the weekend no harm at all.
Liverpool of course travel to Arsenal on Sunday for a game which could have big ramifications for the Premier League title race.
And while Diaz initially seemed to have the shirt earlier in the season, Gakpo’s performance against Leipzig would now put him as favourite to start ahead of the Colombian.
It wasn’t all good from the £44m man who still has a tendency to drift out of games a little too much. But there was certainly enough in his performance to give him another go at the Emirates.
A word of warning from Ward, though, who is absolutely right that Gakpo looks a little more at home in the Champions League that the Premier League. Still, a good night’s work for Cody.
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