Gakpo contributes significantly to Liverpool's European wintering with two goals


Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 10:51 PM• Sam Vreeswijk • Last update: 00:27

Liverpool managed to qualify for the knockout phase of the Europa League without any problems on Thursday evening. Coach Jürgen Klopp's team was too strong for LASK Linz at home, partly thanks to two goals from Cody Gakpo. At the same time, number two Toulouse did not get further than 0-0 against Union St. Gilloise, which means that Liverpool is also certain of a group win. Toulouse is not yet certain of wintering: the French club can still be passed by Union on goal difference in two weeks.

On the Liverpool side, two Dutchmen started the game: Ryan Gravenberch and Gakpo. Virgil van Dijk had to settle for a place on the bench, just like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.

The home team got out of the starting blocks. After Gakpo had already missed a great opportunity for the opening goal, Luis Díaz made it 1-0 not much later: the Colombian headed in a cross from Joe Gomez while falling.

A few minutes later, when the match was only fifteen minutes old, the score became 2-0. Mohamed Salah passed the ball in front of the goal, where Gakpo was ready to tap in. The Dutchman's first Europa League goal on behalf of Liverpool.

In the remainder of the first half the Reds still plenty of opportunities to further expand the score. Former Willem II player Konstantinos Tsimikas came closest to making it 3-0: his shot hit the crossbar.

The third goal came just after halftime. Liverpool were awarded a penalty after a foul by goalkeeper Tobias Lawal on Gakpo, and Salah took the opportunity from eleven meters: 3-0. In the subsequent phase, Liverpool was dangerous several times, but the post (after Gakpo's shot) and goalkeeper Lawal prevented worse for LASK.

Towards the final phase, the Austrians also started to create more chances, but they would not score. This was partly due to goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, who made a number of good saves. In injury time, Cody Gakpo also made it 4-0, after a good pass from Alexander-Arnold.