Paul Merson details how Cody Gakpo has improved at Liverpool this season after 4-1 win vs Ipswich

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Liverpool registered another Premier League win this weekend after a routine 4-1 result against Ipswich Town, with Cody Gakpo the man of the hour.

The Dutch international scored a brace as Liverpool maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table, with Claude Makelele impressed Gakpo’s performance for the Reds as the winger once again took an opportunity in the starting XI with both hands.

With Gakpo making the most appearances out of any player in world football last year, the forward’s fitness could soon become a concern for Arne Slot if the former PSV Eindhoven star begins to show signs of fatigue and tiredness.

Yet as of right now, Gakpo is as good as he has ever been for Liverpool, and Paul Merson believes there is one key factor at play that has helped the Dutch international.

READ MORE: Liverpool’s top 10 appearance makers of 2024 as four players tie for first place

‘Really good’ Euro 2024 has set the pace for Gakpo at Liverpool

Speaking on Sky Sports News, the pundit noted that Gakpo’s form for the Netherlands at last summer’s Euros has set the benchmark for the winger to impress under Slot at Liverpool this season, where the forward has been in top form.

With Gakpo on course for his best season yet at Liverpool, there has been a clear change in the 25-year-old attacker’s mentality and form, and for Merson, the £44m attacker’s displays could come down to how the former PSV man performed at the Euros last summer.

Merson said: “Very good, he’s full of confidence. I think last season he struggled but then he went to the Euros and I thought he had a really good tournament, he’s come back and he’s carried that on. He’s scored big goals in big games, I like players like that.

“Some people score 15 in 15 but they get goals four, five or six in a 6-0 win or a last-minute goal that doesn’t count, but he gets big goals. He doesn’t play every week, but he’s been outstanding, they all are.”

Gakpo not the only Liverpool on-course for career-best season

Liverpool’s attackers have been unstoppable this season, with Mohamed Salah scoring his 50th European goal for the Reds earlier this week against LOSC Lille to bring his total tally for the campaign up to 23.

And the Egyptian international is one of three Liverpool players on-course to have their best season ever in their careers, with Salah and Gakpo also joined by Luis Diaz, who under Slot has been nothing short of exceptional down the left.

With Diaz’s form attracting interest from FC Barcelona, keeping hold of the Colombian will be a hard task for Liverpool this summer, especially with Salah’s future at Anfield also up in the air with the winger yet to sign a new contract.