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Liverpool earned a 2-1 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Jamie Carragher hailed the impact of Cody Gakpo for engineering Liverpool’s opening goal in their Merseyside derby victory over Everton.
The Reds earned a 2-1 win against their fierce foes in their maiden meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute header delivered Liverpool success, moving them seven points clear in the pursuit of Champions League qualification.
Arne Slot’s side opened the scoring in the 29th minute, shortly after Everton had a goal from Iliman Ndiaye disallowed for offside. Mo Salah buried his first opportunity of the game when he was picked out by Gakpo’s perfectly weighted through ball.
And while Salah was the one to get the credit, moving joint-top with Steven Gerrard for the most goals scored in a Merseyside derby during the Premier League era (nine), Carragher saluted the pass played by Gakpo.
The former Kop defender said on Sky Sports: “They were up quickly, credit to Liverpool, and that is something that Arne Slot mentioned before the game - the positions Jake O'Brien takes up with the ball.
“This was the case here [for the goal]. Both full-backs were high up the pitch, Jake O'Brien possibly too high and that meant he couldn't get his foot around the ball. This pass... sometimes when you talk about a goal, it's all about the goalscorer but sometimes it's more about the assist and that's what it feels like with Gakpo.
“Both Everton's full-backs were high, up the pitch - not something you really associate with a David Moyes Everton team in a derby game - and there is just far too much space. You can't leave Mo Salah in that space. That is one of the assists of the season. A fantastic pass from Gakpo and that guy is never going to miss a situation like that.”
Gakpo has recorded eight goals and six assists in 47 appearances in all competitions this season.
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