Cody Gakpo’s reputation among Liverpool fans is summed up by the fact that after his goal completed a thrilling comeback against Fulham, Darwin Nunez’s name was chanted around the Kop.
To be fair, the Uruguayan had provided the assist for that goal as part of a brilliant cameo that tipped the match in favor of the hosts.
Still, it is quite unusual to hear the supplier’s name echo around Anfield after such a crucial goal.
This is largely due to Kopites’ desperate desire to see Nunez succeed, despite the occasionally unfair outside scrutiny related to his high price tag.
However, it also says a lot about how Gakpo continues to fly under the radar as the key man in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0.
The Dutch international has scored in all four rounds of the Reds’ Carabao Cup to put them on the cusp of the Wembley final.
It is an achievement that has earned him comparisons with Takumi Minamino, who was the club’s top scorer in both that tournament and the FA Cup, as they sealed a domestic double in 2021/22.
But while those similarities are noted as a compliment, Gakpo’s form this season shows he deserves to be considered much more than just a cup specialist.
After Wednesday’s strike, his record this season is nine goals and three assists in 27 games in all competitions, despite the fact that only 16 of them were starts.
That equates to a goal contribution every 119 minutes, a statistic made even more impressive by the fact that he has been used frequently in midfield.
Liverpool insiders cited the player’s “multi-functional” nature as a key factor in his arrival last January, and he has certainly lived up to that label by also appearing as a false nine, left winger and, in the second half against Fulham, on the right.
But it would be fair to say that, for the player himself, this versatility can sometimes be a curse, with constant position changes making it harder to find consistency.
Fortunately for Klopp, each different role is always taken on without the slightest complaint, which speaks to the maturity and character that saw Gakpo captain PSV Eindhoven at the age of 23.
And we must not forget that the forward is only 24 years old, although his impressive physical stature and the intelligence with which he plays belie that figure.
In fact, that’s arguably the most exciting aspect of the overall package he’s offering: that there’s still so much more to do under a coach who is unrivaled in terms of offensive player development.
If Gakpo continues to realize his immense potential in the coming years, perhaps he too will finally begin to get the recognition he deserves.
