Gakpo in Ruud health
Ruud van Nistelrooy cannot say he hadn’t known what to expect. The Leicester City boss was in charge of PSV Eindhoven when Liverpool came knocking for their sought-after forward Cody Gakpo two years ago.
Indeed, the departure of the Holland international contributed to Van Nistelrooy’s decision to walk away at the end of the season while citing a lack of support.
And the loss for the Dutch side remains very much Liverpool’s gain, Gakpo a key cog in an attacking unit that continues to help Arne Slot’s challenge for honour on four fronts.
While Liverpool weren’t exactly flailing in pursuit of an equaliser approaching half-time, there was a sense of unease among the Anfield crowd.
That, though, instantly dissipated when, in trademark fashion, Gakpo accepted an Alexis Mac Allister pass, cut inside off the left flank and thumped a right-footed effort into the top corner from the edge of the area.
It was deserved reward for Liverpool’s best player on the night, an eighth goal in 13 appearances for the in-form forward moving him on to 10 for the season.
Gakpo then capped a personal triumph with superb work in midfield before releasing Mohamed Salah to score the third. This is a player at the peak of his powers.
Midfield transfer reality emerges
Curtis Jones may have been blissfully unaware. But this was a wholly appropriate moment for the Liverpool midfielder to further demonstrate his progress under Arne Slot.
After an underwhelming first half, the strike from Jones four minutes into the second half – helping initiate the move before tapping in Alexis Mac Allister’s inviting pull-back from close range – completed the Reds’ turnaround.
A third Premier League goal of the season – already matching his best-ever tally in the competition – it came on the midfielder’s 100th appearance in the competition, a landmark Jones later admitted he had no idea about until receiving a post-match message from former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
Jones has now started eight of Liverpool’s last 11 league games and, with Dominik Szoboszlai having picked up a fifth top-flight booking of the campaign during a late cameo from the bench, will now be expected to continue at West Ham United on Sunday when the Hungarian serves a one-match suspension.
Elsewhere in midfield, Ryan Gravenberch grew into the game after occasionally being overpowered by Leicester’s strong start, while the sheer persistence of Mac Allister to make something happen saw him assist the opening two goals.
And should Liverpool look to bolster their engine room in January, it will require a player of high calibre to compete for a starting role alongside Slot’s present options.
