Liverpool managed to secure a late point against Fulham in an entertaining 2-2 draw on Merseyside.
Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota were the goalscorers on the day as the Liverpool attackers managed to provide the goods at the right time for Arne Slot’s side, who remain top of the Premier League despite losing out on two precious points.
With Theo Walcott lauding Jota’s performance for Liverpool, the Portuguese international could have a strong claim to being named in Slot’s best starting XI with the former Wolves striker now fit and healthy again.
Yet Steve Nicol has now said another Liverpool forward will be thinking he could start every game after his performance against Fulham.
(SUN AND SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Cody Gakpo of Liverpool celebrates with Luis Diaz after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match b...
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Cody Gakpo backed to believe he could start for Liverpool
Speaking on ESPN FC, the pundit highlighted how confident Gakpo now looks in Liverpool’s attack, with Nicol backing the £44m Dutch international to think he could start for the Reds in the best starting XI under Slot.
Nicol said: “You rightly mention Gakpo, who’s been scoring goals and looks sharp. Anytime he gets the ball at his feet he’s desperate to get after defenders, and defenders hate that, so right now, Gakpo started the season thinking: ‘Will I even get a game?’ To now thinking he probably gets in that starting XI.”
Although Fulham manager Marco Silva was left fuming with Gakpo’s goal, the former PSV Eindhoven attacker showed against the Cottagers why he could be a real asset for Liverpool in the final fixtures of the winter schedule.
And with Gakpo showing incredible levels of confidence in recent games, the winger will have every right to think he could be named in Slot’s best Liverpool XI, which could be seen next weekend when the Reds travel to north London to face Tottenham.
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and L...
Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
How good has Gakpo been this season for Liverpool?
We’re approaching the halfway point of the 2024/25 season, and whilst Mohamed Salah has stolen all the headlines for Liverpool this season, Gakpo has been quietly excellent this year under Slot.
Cody Gakpo’s 2024/25 Liverpool stats Games played Goals Assists
Premier League 15 3 1
League Cup 2 4 0
UEFA Champions League 6 2 1
Total 22 9 3
Nine goals in all competitions marked Gakpo the joint-second highest goalscorer for Liverpool this season alongside Luis Diaz, another winger who has thrived this campaign under the new Anfield manager.
And with Gakpo seemingly confident in his abilities to lead the line for Liverpool either as a centre-forward or as a left-winger, the Dutch international could be about to hit new heights on Merseyside at long last.
Related Posts