Cody Gakpo Shines in Liverpool's 2-0 Victory
Cody Gakpo did not just answer the transfer rumours on Friday night. He silenced them.
In a sharp, controlled 2-0 win in Suffolk, the Dutch forward ran the game for Liverpool, stitching together attacks and dictating the tempo in a way that underlined exactly why Andoni Iraola has no intention of letting him go. Every touch seemed to carry a message: he is central to this new era, not a name for the departures board.
Gakpo the creator, Isak the finisher
If Gakpo was the architect, Alexander Isak was the hammer. The Sweden international is in a ruthless mood right now, and Liverpool are reaping the benefits.
Isak struck twice in the space of nine breathless minutes, both goals arriving from Gakpo passes and both dripping with the kind of predatory instinct that defines a striker at the peak of his confidence. Those two finishes did more than kill the contest. They hauled Isak level with his entire Premier League goal tally from last season – and he has needed only three games to get there.
That blistering spell also pushed him into the club’s record books. His quickfire brace matched a feat last achieved by Maxi Rodriguez more than a decade ago, a reminder of just how rare this kind of early-season explosion has been at Anfield.
Gakpo, though, was not interested in headlines about himself. His focus stayed on the partnership that is starting to catch fire.
“Yeah, we will see. We always train together, and always try to get to know each other better. Hopefully we can assist each other many times. He owes me a few assists now!” he said afterwards, grinning as he spoke about his connection with Isak.
A statement win for Iraola
For Iraola, this was more than a tidy away victory. It was a small turning point.
Two 2-2 draws to open his Premier League reign had raised early questions about Liverpool’s ability to close games out under their new manager. They had shown energy and ambition, but not control. In Suffolk, that changed. Liverpool played with purpose, pressed with intelligence and, crucially, saw the job through.
The 2-0 scoreline reflected a professional, mature display. It also spared Iraola an unwanted line in the history books. He avoided becoming the first Liverpool manager since Brendan Rodgers to go winless in his first three league matches in charge.
Gakpo summed up the mood when he spoke to Sky Sports after the final whistle.
“I think it was a great game today. Obviously some things we have to improve still but a much-needed win for us, and I'm really glad that we got the three points,” he said, acknowledging both the progress and the standards still to reach.
Van Dijk’s verdict: “Cody was outstanding”
From the back, Virgil van Dijk had the best seat in the house to watch Liverpool’s more direct, incisive approach take shape.
“I think we were a little bit more direct in the beginning, which is what we wanted to put the danger in their half and create a bit of chaos. Great goals. Cody was outstanding. Great win, and on to the next,” the captain said, his words carrying the authority of someone who has seen plenty of attacking talent pass through Anfield.
Van Dijk also cut straight to the heart of the transfer talk swirling around Gakpo in recent weeks. For him, keeping the Dutch forward was non-negotiable.
“Massive. I said it before the transfer window had closed, he's important for us, and he will be important this season,” he added.
On this evidence, that importance is not theoretical. It is tangible, visible in every threaded pass and every clever movement between the lines. Gakpo is the link, Isak is the blade, and Iraola now has a front line that looks ready to trouble anyone in the division.
The questions about departures can wait. The more pressing one now is simple: if this is how Liverpool look in early September, what might this partnership grow into by the time the season reaches its sharp end?
