Cody Gakpo's revival has been the story of Liverpool's season so far, and he delivered two assists in Friday's Premier League win over Ipswich Town. The performance underlined why the club were right to keep him despite summer interest from Manchester City and Tottenham.
A third straight standout display
Gakpo has been Liverpool's best attacker in each of the opening games, though Alexander Isak's stellar performance against Ipswich took most of the headlines. The No. 9 equalled his entire Premier League tally of three goals from last season within just three matches this time around.
Gakpo deserves equal credit for earning the three points, setting up both of Isak's goals. The second was a beauty, played with the outside of his right boot through to the rampaging Swede.
Creator-in-chief with three assists
Gakpo's three assists are the most of any player in the Premier League at this stage, making him the creator-in-chief in Liverpool's attack. With Florian Wirtz still blowing hot and cold, an in-form Gakpo is just what the doctor ordered.
If he can produce the same quality on the right as he did against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool's attack is a mouthwatering prospect with Bradley Barcola - who made his debut off the bench against Ipswich - still to join the party. Victor Munoz also put in a shift without pulling up as many trees as his teammates, while Rio Ngumoha didn't get a sniff in a game Liverpool ground out on the back of good attacking work in the opening stages.
Deserving of a serenade
Liverpool fans sang loudly for Isak on Friday night, and they were singing for Barcola - a catchy number to the tune of the Maxi Rodriguez chant - before he even got on the pitch. But Gakpo, who doesn't have a regular chant of his own despite years of service and his status as the highest scorer in the current squad, showed again why he is deserving of one.
That Liverpool could have replaced him with Ismaila Sarr or Yankuba Minteh now looks unthinkable.
