The curtain has come down on the group stage of the World Cup, with all seven Liverpool players still involved in the competition.
All key players for the nations, it has been enjoyable to watch as the Reds free themselves from a terrible season at club level and find a new lease of life in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Amazingly, Liverpool players have set a 60-year-old World Cup record for the most assists by players from a single club at the tournament, and have generally been very good indeed. But, on the eve of the knockouts, who has been the best so far?
How does Andoni Iraola get the Netherlands version of Cody Gakpo for Liverpool?
This is not the same player 😭
Alexander Isak: 3 appearances, 1 goal, 3 assists – 7/10
One of the most anticipated players to watch for Liverpool fans this summer, Alexander Isak has pleasantly surprised for Sweden.
Though Graham Potter’s team have been a bit hit and miss, Isak has been really good, scoring a wonderful solo goal during their opening match against Tunisia, a game in which he also laid on two assists.
Sweden were then thumped 5-1 by the Netherlands, but Isak was good again, registering another assist with a perfect through ball for Anthony Elanga.
He had a quieter outing during final group game against Japan, and Sweden will surely lose in the round of 32 against France, but it has been nice to see Isak completing matches and looking sharp during them.
Alexis Mac Allister: 3 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists – 6/10
The only outfield Liverpool player not to register a goal contribution so far, it has still been a positive World Cup for Alexis Mac Allister.
Argentina have, inevitably, been a one-man show, with Lionel Messi stealing the headlines and scoring six times in what will surely be his final World Cup.
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Mac Allister has still been important within that, starting the first two matches before coming on as a 60th minute substitute on matchday three against Jordan.
He has at times looked like the sluggish, sloppy player Liverpool fans saw last season, but more often than not the 27-year-old has stepped it up. Not as eye-catching as his Reds teammates, perhaps, but it has been a decent start nonetheless.
Alisson Becker: 3 appearances, 2 clean sheets – 7/10
There have often been question marks over Alisson Becker as Brazil’s number one during major tournaments.
Despite his quality, the Liverpool goalkeeper has not always convinced, especially at the World Cup, but that has changed this summer.
Alisson has looked like the best version of himself, making key saves against Haiti and Scotland in particular.
There was a poor moment early on as he rushed out to allow Ismael Saibiri to score for Morocco on matchday one, but since then Alisson has been perfect, keeping consecutive clean sheets and helping Brazil to grow into the tournament.
Cody Gakpo: 3 appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist – 7/10
Cody Gakpo was the talk of the town on matchday two for the Netherlands after blasting two goals and an assist past Sweden.
However, while that performance felt like typical Gakpo at a major tournament, he has otherwise been a little quiet.
Despite playing 85 minutes against both Japan and Tunisia, the forward did not really make a big impact in either game.
Still, it has been revealed that Gakpo has been going through a tough moment personally after he and his partner lost their unborn baby this week. It has been another positive tournament for him, but Liverpool’s No. 18 now has more important things to focus on.
Florian Wirtz: 3 appearances, 0 goals, 2 assists – 5/10
Though, on the face of it, two assists in three matches makes it look as if Florian Wirtz has done well for Germany so far, the reality is slightly different.
There have been good moments, and both of his assists – against Curacao on matchday one and Ecuador on matchday three – were good pieces of intricate play, but Wirtz has generally been a little anonymous.
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Liverpool fans watching the 23-year-old will feel a familiar pang of frustration that he just has not been able to take any game by the scruff of its neck.
He will get another chance to find his feet against Paraguay, but Wirtz will need to improve before a probable last-16 match-up with France.
Ryan Gravenberch: 3 appearances, 0 goals, 2 assists – 8/10
He may not have got himself on the scoresheet so far, but we’ve got Ryan Gravenberch down as one of Liverpool’s most impressive performers at the World Cup so far.
With Frenkie de Jong behind him, Gravenberch has more licence to get forward for the Netherlands, and it has been great to see him dominating games.
The 24-year-old was terrific against Sweden in particular, but it was on matchday one against Japan where he made the biggest differences, registering both assists for the Dutch, including a superb ball in for Virgil van Dijk to head home.
Having been frozen out by Ronald Koeman almost three years ago, Gravenberch is now one of the Netherlands boss’ absolute key men. It will be fascinating to see how he matches up against rumoured Liverpool target Ayyoub Bouaddi and Morocco in the last-32.
Virgil van Dijk: 3 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist – 8/10
Joining Gravenberch on an 8/10 is Van Dijk, who has been his typically imperious self so far.
It was fitting that the Liverpool captain got the Netherlands’ opening goal of the tournament, following on from his best ever scoring season for the Reds.
Van Dijk did not cover himself in glory for Japan’s late equaliser on matchday one, but otherwise he has been near faultless, and if the Dutch are to go far, he will clearly be the key.
Looking ahead, the Netherlands will probably face France in the quarter-final if things go as expected, and with Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe in sparkling form, Van Dijk will have to continue this form to give his team a chance.
Meanwhile, new signing Victor Munoz is still injured and has not yet featured for Spain.
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