Andy Townsend blown away after watching what ‘brilliant’ Liverpool player did all game against Leicester

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool had a real fight on their hands at Anfield on Boxing Day as Leicester City refused to go quietly.

The Foxes have been in poor form under Ruud van Nistelrooy but still have quality within their ranks.

They showed that early on against Liverpool, with Jordan Ayew firing home an unlikely opener.

For a long while in the first-half, it looked like Leicester were going to escape into the bowels of Anfield with a lead at the break.

However, Cody Gakpo was not having that. The Dutchman was a bright spark on the Liverpool left and cut inside to curl home a brilliant equaliser.

It was nothing less than Gakpo’s performance deserved, and commentating for Amazon Prime Sport, pundit Andy Townsend hailed Liverpool’s No.18.

Cody Gakpo hailed for Leicester display

Liverpool were running down blind alleys far too often in the first 45 minutes against Leicester.

Although the Reds were dominating the ball, they were simply playing into Leicester’s hands with cross after cross into the box.

Gakpo was not blameless in that, with the 25-year-old too often cutting in and drifting aimless balls for the Leicester defenders to head away.

However, the trick worked just before half-time, as Gakpo cut in and thundered a super effort past Jakub Stolarczyk. And according to Townsend, it was no less than the Liverpool man deserved.

READ MORE: Jim Beglin says Liverpool did something that was ‘like watching Arsenal’ against Leicester City

“He has been sharp Cody Gakpo,” said the former Ireland player. “Whenever he’s got the ball on this right side he’s trying to make something positive of it.

“With the time that he’s got he curls that beautifully, wonderfully past the goalkeeper, he’s never, ever getting anywhere near it. That is a brilliant goal, it really is. Just that moment of class to have a look, decide to take the shot on and execute it wonderfully.”

Gakpo leads the way for Liverpool

Gakpo looked the most likely for Liverpool right the way through the first-half at Anfield.

There are games where the former PSV Eindhoven winger really has the bit between his teeth and this Boxing Day meeting was one of them.

Perhaps extra motivated in front of his former manager Van Nistelrooy, Gakpo stepped things up a notch to lay down a marker on the Liverpool left.

And after also picking up an assist for Mohamed Salah, Gakpo was given the man of the match award by Townsend.

“Cody Gakpo I think has been the nest of the bunch tonight,” he said. “He got that all important goal just before half-time but has looked really sharp and drove at the Leicester defence every chance he got. He’s been excellent.”