Liverpool gave their title charge another shot in the arm after delivering a crushing win over West Ham on Sunday.
The Reds have historically found it relatively difficult going to the London Stadium, but had no such trouble this time.
Three first-half goals from Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool well clear at half-time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota finished matters in the second period to send Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
There were plenty of standout performers for the Reds on the night, with Salah once again getting himself both a goal and an assist.
But as well as Salah, Gakpo was a shining light for Liverpool. And according to former Reds striker Michael Owen, the 25-year-old is now a nailed on starter for the Reds.
Michael Owen hails Cody Gakpo contribution
Gakpo being on the scoresheet is now starting to feel like an inevitability whenever Liverpool play.
The Dutchman has five goals in his past 10 games for the Reds and has really started to nail down his position on the left of the Liverpool attack.
And speaking to premierleague.com, Owen says that Gakpo is now part of Liverpool’s best XI for the first time since joining two years ago.
“I think he’s playing his way into the starting XI,” said the former Reds player. “If there was the biggest game of the season tomorrow I think he’d be in it now, which is not something I’ve said during his time at the club. He’s playing particularly well, scoring plenty of goals.”
Owen also praised Gakpo’s teammates in the Liverpool front three, claiming that each individually is in his best moment for the club.
“You know what, the three players who have got those shirts at the moment, Diaz, Salah and Gakpo are probably in the form of their life,” he says.
“All three of them are probably playing at this moment as good as they have ever done in a Liverpool shirt.”
Gakpo plays his way into Liverpool’s XI
The three of Gakpo, Diaz and Salah has certainly been Liverpool’s most productive this season.
Following their goals on Sunday, they have 11, 12 and 20 respectively in the campaign.
Obviously, Salah is the main man, but the other two have become two key players alongside the Egyptian.
Diogo Jota may have something to say about that, with the Portuguese coming off the bench to grab himself a sixth goal in 16 games this season.
For now, though, Gakpo deserves his place as the starting player on Liverpool’s left, with Diaz in the middle and Salah on the right. If the Reds played the Champions League final tomorrow, that would surely be Arne Slot’s pick.
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