LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Cody Gakpo showed why he may be worth keeping hold of this summer, getting the highest marks for Liverpool in their 2-2 draw at Newcastle.
The Reds were seconds away from a woeful start to the season on Sunday, only for Dominik Szoboszlai to nervelessly bury a last-gasp penalty at St James’ Park.
Gakpo had earlier equalised from distance, as Andoni Iraola‘s Liverpool side produced a display that was akin to a replica of many we saw last season.
Here we compare our player ratings with those of the Liverpool Echo, BBC Sport and the TIA readers.
Gakpo (7.33) impressed most for Liverpool, even if it wasn’t necessarily a consistently strong performance.
The Dutchman’s finish to make it 1-1 was impressive, and Ian Doyle of the Echo said he was the one attacker who was “intent to put himself about and take the game to Newcastle.”
Meanwhile, This Is Anfield‘s Danny Gallagher gave Gakpo the Man of the Match award and called him the “only real outlet in a really poor first half.”
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jeremy Jacquet (6.67) and Szoboszlai (6.67) shared the second-best rating, with the former catching the eye on his debut for Liverpool.
The Frenchman showed poise on the ball, and Aadam Patel of BBC Sport believes he has made an “encouraging start to life in the Premier League.”
Full-back pair Jeremie Frimpong (4.33) and Milos Kerkez (4.33) deservedly got the lowest marks, with both so poor on the day.
Frimpong’s defending was “haphazard,” according to Doyle, and Gallagher labelled Kerkez as “erratic.”
What the stats say: Gakpo shines, Alisson struggles
According to our friends at FotMob, Gakpo (8.3) was Liverpool’s most effective player at St James’.
His well-taken strike to equalise no doubt played a part in that, but he was also the Reds’ most involved attacking player.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts to conceding his side's second goal the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts to conceding his side's second goal the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
No player had more touches inside the opposition box (10) and shots (6) than Gakpo, as doubts continue to surround his future.
Alisson (5.9) perhaps surprisingly got the lowest score, conceding twice and failing to complete any of his four attempted long balls.
Football – FA Premier League – Manchester City FC v Liverpool FC
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 25, 2023: Former Liverpool player Daniel Sturridge, working for Sky Sports, during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Football – FA Premier League – Newcastle United FC v Liverpool FC
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool players during the moment of applause in memory of Kevin Keegan, who passed away in July after his battle with stage four cancer, before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)