Cody Gakpo is setting the standard for Liverpool’s attack under Iraola

Football has a habit of making certainty look foolish. A player can spend a summer being discussed as a possible departure, then spend the opening weeks of the season demonstrating how difficult he would be to replace.

Cody Gakpo is providing Liverpool with that reminder. While more expensive attacking colleagues draw attention, the Dutchman is supplying the qualities that turn awkward matches into victories. Creativity, physical commitment and the willingness to take responsibility are all there.

On Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, David Lynch described the change in emphatic terms. “What a response to nearly leaving,” he said. “He’s been absolutely fantastic.”

Bournemouth winner begins with Gakpo’s quality

Alexander Isak supplied the finish in Liverpool’s victory at Bournemouth, but the decisive attack owed much to Gakpo’s intervention on the right. His skill created the opening, and his delivery brought the uncertainty in the penalty area from which Liverpool profited.

There was some disorder before the ball reached the net. That does not diminish the contribution that initiated it. Dangerous deliveries make defenders turn, force hurried decisions and create opportunities that a settled defensive line would otherwise deny.

Lynch made that distinction clearly. Isak deserved credit for converting the opportunity, but Gakpo was the player whose quality made the moment possible.

In a close contest, such actions carry disproportionate weight. Liverpool did not need an afternoon of uninterrupted attacking fluency. They needed someone to disturb Bournemouth’s organisation when the opportunity arrived.

Liverpool’s attacking benchmark comes from influence

The figures highlighted during the podcast reflected the breadth of Gakpo’s contribution. He created three chances, completed two dribbles and won nine duels, leading Liverpool in those categories in the discussion of the match.

Those are different kinds of involvement, and that is why they matter together. Chance creation measures one part of an attacker’s work. Beating an opponent changes the shape of a passage of play. Winning a duel can preserve possession or create the next opportunity to attack.

Gakpo was contributing across those demands. The argument that he has been Liverpool’s best attacker at the start of the season rests on that wider influence, rather than simply the final touch before a goal.

Others may have greater reputations or larger transfer fees attached to them. At present, his performances are setting a standard they must match.

Physical presence adds another dimension

One of Lynch’s most interesting observations concerned Gakpo’s use of his size. He suggested the forward had “rediscovered his physicality”, bringing a more assertive edge to his football.

That is particularly valuable in the kind of Premier League contest Liverpool encountered at Bournemouth. When space is limited and possession is contested, an attacker needs ways to remain useful beyond waiting for an ideal pass.

Gakpo’s strength can help him protect the ball, withstand contact and stay involved when the match becomes untidy. Used alongside his technical ability, it makes him a more rounded problem for defenders.

It would be too neat to credit every improvement to a single instruction from Andoni Iraola. What is visible, however, is a player applying more of his available tools to the job.

Early form changes Liverpool’s decisions

A strong opening run does more than lift confidence. It alters the practical choices facing a manager and the wider club.

Gakpo’s work on the right has provided an answer in an area where Liverpool might otherwise have continued searching. Lynch acknowledged that the arrangement is not perfect, but there is enough evidence to understand why the Dutchman has become so important.

For Iraola, selection should follow contribution. Gakpo is creating, competing and helping decide matches, making a persuasive case to remain among the first names chosen.

There will be more demanding periods, and maintaining this level is the next challenge. For now, Liverpool have an attacker playing with purpose and confidence, whose response to an uncertain summer has been delivered where it matters most. The conversation around Gakpo has changed because his football has changed it.