Cody Gakpo was close to completing £85m transfer to Manchester City but will now be among Andoni Iraola's main options in attack for Liverpool
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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Anfield was incensed. Not for the first time, Victor Munoz was sent tumbling to the ground by already-booked Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina, only for referee Sam Barrott to wave away protests.
The home support fumed while the Liverpool bench jumped to their feet in protestation. And one person appeared more livid than most.
For a short while after the incident, Cody Gakpo, not long substituted, was in the ear of the fourth official questioning the failure to award a free-kick.
The Dutchman continued his protestations after the final whistle sounded on a second successive 2-2 draw that continued the spluttering start to Andoni Iraola's reign as head coach.
Hardly the actions of a player who was on the brink of leaving. Yet it wouldn't have taken a great leap of imagination to picture Gakpo departing ahead of the transfer window closing earlier this week.
After being courted by Tottenham Hotspur for much of the summer, the Dutchman instead became a target for Manchester City, who were willing to pay around £85million for the 27-year-old.
The condition of the deal was that Liverpool brought in a forward - preferably a right-winger - as replacement. When that wasn't forthcoming, it signalled the end of City's interest in Gakpo with Everton's Iliman Ndiaye instead being recruited.
For many Reds supporters, there was relief a player who has been the star performer during the embryonic Iraola era wasn't leaving.
It must be noted some of those were also the same fans who targeted Gakpo for fearful abuse on social media - and, it must be said, for grumbles inside Anfield - with the Dutchman one of a group of players scapegoated for last season's travails under his compatriot Arne Slot.
Gakpo certainly underachieved compared to his title-winning campaign efforts but he wasn't the only one.
That, though, is now in the past with the Netherlands international having already convinced Iraola of his wares and, not least with his goal in the Premier League opener at Newcastle United and assist for Alexander Isak against Forest.
The latter came when starting on the right flank, a position with which he may become greater accustomed following the £123m signing of Bradley Barcola on Monday given the France international forged his reputation on Gakpo's favoured left flank.
With Munoz and Rio Ngumoha also preferring the left wing, opportunities could become limited compared to on the opposite side.
Gakpo's style is markedly different to his fellow wide players - all of whom are likely to have their time on the right - and with Iraola having made clear his desire to regularly rotate his forward line, that variation will be invaluable, even if the Dutchman's only previous other experience in the position came when among those tried when Mohamed Salah was featuring in and subsequently injured at the Africa Cup of Nations in early 2024.
The long-term injury for Hugo Ekitike means Gakpo is also an alternative to Isak down the middle and, in any case, will perhaps have most of his minutes on the left as Iraola chops and changes.
That City were willing to spend big on Gakpo will surely inject confidence in the player, who will be among many to benefit from the fresh start under Iraola.
It may not be as anyone had anticipated mere days earlier. But Gakpo now has the chance to banish last season's demons and become a viable option on the Liverpool right. It could help spare Iraola a major headache.