Liverpool star Cody Gakpo delivered a fantastic Man of The Match performance in a 5-1 victory against West Ham United. The Reds beat the Hammers in the Carabao Cup third round after going a goal down in the 21st minute.
Gakpo delivered a sensational performance after earning a start ahead of in-form Luis Diaz as the left-wing attacker for Liverpool. Head coach Arne Slot has enjoyed a successful start to his tenure as the squad adjusted quickly to new tactics.
Gakpo faced severe criticism in March last season after a poor performance against Manchester United in the FA Cup loss. However, former manager Jurgen Klopp defended the Dutchman while taking the responsibility for his continuous struggles during the last season.
Klopp played Gakpo in several attacking positions and even as a central midfielder to compensate for the shortage of options. Liverpool struggled with a severe injury crisis last season that forced versatile players like Gakpo to play in different positions.
However, the 25-year-old played at his preferred left-wing position after the March international break and delivered consistent performances for Liverpool. While the club imploded with a collective dip in the form of the team, Gakpo shined brightly in the attack.
The Dutch international used his last season’s momentum and played a crucial role in the Netherlands’ campaign in Euro 2024. Gakpo has maintained the same high level of performance this season despite Slot preferring Diaz over him at the start.
According to SofaScore, Gakpo made three key passes while enjoying 94% passing accuracy apart from his two brilliant late goals. He won three out of six ground duels and one out of three aerial duels, making two successful dribble attempts.
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Furthermore, the Dutch international made one clearance, three interceptions and one tackle in his all-round performance for the Reds. Gakpo’s form will give Slot a healthy selection headache as Diaz has also continued his fine form for the Reds.
