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Cody Gakpo – Liverpool FC

On a day where Liverpool’s frustrations continued to mount, there were few redeeming performances to note. Yet amid the disjointed patterns and misfiring attack, Cody Gakpo stood out as the one player in red who carried consistent intent and composure. The Dutchman struck the woodwork three times, scored a well-taken equaliser, and emerged as Liverpool’s sharpest attacking outlet in an otherwise disheartening 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

A Lone Spark in a Faltering Attack

It was evident from the opening exchanges that Gakpo was determined to impose himself. Operating from the left flank, his movement was fluid and intelligent — constantly drifting into half-spaces to create angles for passes that too often failed to come. While Alexander Isak struggled for rhythm and Mohamed Salah looked peripheral, Gakpo’s initiative and ball control at least offered Liverpool some spark.

The first moment of real threat came midway through the first half when his curling effort from distance cannoned off the post — the first of three occasions where luck deserted him. A second near-identical strike later in the half clipped the bar, as United’s defensive line repeatedly afforded him too much space on the edge of the area.

When his equaliser finally arrived after the break, it felt like the breakthrough Liverpool had been searching for. A clever layoff from Isak was met with a thunderous drive that evaded Onana, nestling into the bottom corner. For a fleeting few minutes, Anfield believed momentum had shifted.

Fighting Against the Flow

Yet, as has been the theme of recent weeks, that momentum quickly dissolved. United’s set-piece winner in stoppage time left Liverpool once again ruing both fortune and frailty. Through it all, Gakpo remained Liverpool’s most productive outlet — pressing with aggression, recycling possession intelligently, and showing the directness that others lacked.

There is a growing sense that the Dutch international is rediscovering the conviction that made him a crucial part of Arne Slot’s early plans. His confidence on the turn and ability to strike cleanly with minimal backlift make him one of the few in this transitional side currently playing with conviction.

If Liverpool is to reignite their title defence, Gakpo’s resurgence could prove central to the cause. Amid the mounting uncertainty, his display was a reminder that even in defeat, individual performances can hint at recovery.

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Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 1 Manchester United

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