Cody Gakpo has been praised for his form this season having been linked heavily with a move away from Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Cody Gakpo of Liverpool runs with the ball during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on September 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool runs with the ball during the Carabao Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Cody Gakpo has been praised for his response to a summer of speculation over his Liverpool future - and is being backed to build a trophy-challenging partnership with Alexander Isak.
Gakpo played a part in the first goal, scored the second and assisted the third as the Reds began their Carabao Cup campaign with a 3-1 third-round win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening.
The Holland international was a long-time target of Tottenham during the transfer window with Manchester City willing to pay £85million for the player, only for Liverpool's failure to sign a new right-winger to scupper any chance of an exit.
Gakpo has subsequently been the Reds' best player during the opening weeks of the Andoni Iraola era, scoring two goals and providing four assists - three of which have been for Isak.
And France World Cup winner and former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has been impressed with the attitude of the Dutchman.
"All of a sudden, Cody Gakpo is proving how much he is worth to Liverpool, and I have really liked the way he has played in these last games," said Petit.
"When a player is linked with a move away like Gakpo, they can lose confidence and lose their place in the team, but I think the transfer window has had the other effect on him to produce great performances.
"I don’t think he ever wanted to leave Liverpool and there was so much speculation about him all summer and suddenly he has shown this side to his game and it’s amazing, and I have a feeling he’s done that to prove to anybody at Liverpool that he wants to stay.
"Some of his team-mates made comments too in this way, saying he should keep his place at Liverpool, and now he’s creating all these assists for Alexander Isak. It would have been a great error for them to sell him, and I think he is a good player, and he can improve too."
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, Petit added: "He can do much more than what we’ve seen but I like the fight he has shown to create those assists and that will bring him more confidence to keep going as he tries to guarantee he has a future at Liverpool now.
"Can Gakpo and Isak become the combination that wins Liverpool a trophy this year? I don’t think it would be a surprise."