In a gripping Carabao Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday night, Cody Gakpo stole the spotlight as he emerged from the bench to secure a crucial victory for Liverpool over Fulham. Despite being initially omitted from the starting lineup, Gakpo, along with Darwin Nuñez, turned the tide after Willian’s first-half goal put Liverpool at a disadvantage.
Gakpo’s entrance in the second half proved pivotal, as he and Nuñez orchestrated a comeback. Curtis Jones’s deflected equalizer on the 68th minute laid the foundation, followed by Gakpo’s decisive winner just three minutes later, both assisted by Nuñez.
Jurgen Klopp lauded the impact of his substitutes, emphasizing the game-changing prowess of Cody and Darwin, stating, “That you can bring Cody and Darwin from the bench, that’s a proper change.”
Gakpo’s winning goal marked his fourth in the Carabao Cup this season, with previous strikes against Leicester, Bournemouth, and West Ham. Remarkably, he shares the top scorer position in the 2023/24 competition with Morgan Rogers of Middlesbrough, showcasing his consistent goal-scoring threat.
Opta editor Michael Reid highlighted Gakpo’s historic achievement, noting that he is the first Liverpool player since Ian Rush in 1983/84 to score in four consecutive rounds of the League Cup.
The victory holds a promising omen for Liverpool, reminiscent of their League Cup triumphs in the 1980/81, 1983/84, and 2000/01 seasons, following similar goal-scoring exploits.
While Gakpo’s performance in the Premier League this season has been relatively subdued, with three goals and one assist, his standout cup contributions draw parallels to Takumi Minamino’s impact in the 2021/22 campaign.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Gakpo expressed his delight with his impressive strike rate and emphasized the team’s positive mentality. Looking ahead, Gakpo urged the team to maintain their momentum, recognizing that it’s only the first leg of the semi-final.
Liverpool is set to face Fulham in the second leg of the semi-final at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, 24 January.