07 March 2023 , 10:51
1291
0
Jamie Carragher has admitted that he was surprised by Cody Gakpo's "fantastic" running power after the Dutch forward bagged a double to down Manchester United at the weekend.
Gakpo's slick first-half opener proved to be the catalyst for a historic 7-0 win, with the 23-year-old's strike partners Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah also scoring twice for the Reds. Roberto Firmino stepped off the bench to complete the rout in the dying embers of the match to cap a memorable afternoon at Anfield.
Gakpo has enjoyed a steady start to life on Merseyside after Liverpool pipped Manchester United to a £37million deal for the versatile forward on Boxing Day, but he was absolutely electric against Erik ten Hag's side on Sunday.
And after watching the former PSV Eindhoven star tear Liverpool's bitter rivals apart, Anfield favourite Carragher revealed that he had been somewhat taken aback by the Netherland international's impressive acceleration.
Reflecting on Gakpo's electric burst of pace in the build-up to his second and Liverpool's third goal, Carragher told Sky Sports : "I'll be honest, watching Gakpo, I didn't think he had this. I thought he's got to play centrally. I don't really see him as a wide player even though that was his role at PSV, because I didn't think he had the pace.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
"But the running power he has here was absolutely fantastic. And that finish is world-class. That's how the best players in world football finish. From the tightest of angles, and don't forget how far he has run, he must have been knackered.
"You see the celebration in front of the Kop, but he for me was the big revelation of the day, and maybe there are signs of a new front three blossoming right now."
Join the debate! What did you make of Gakpo's performance against Man Utd? Let us know here.
Gakpo was in scintillating form for Liverpool (PA)After scoring twice against Manchester United, Gakpo now has four goals in eight Premier League appearances for Liverpool since his blockbuster January move.
And after impressing alongside Nunez and Salah in a new look front three, Carragher is enthused at what the trio could achieve in the future. He added: "On the back of the announcement of Roberto Firmino not being at the club next season, Sadio Mane moving on at the start of the season, and Liverpool just not being at the races for a lot of this season, it felt nice to see Gakpo, Nunez and Salah - still with [Luis] Diaz to come back and [Diogo] Jota on the bench - and what could be the makings of a new front three.
"Will it ever get to that level [of the previous front three]? We don't know. But let's not forget Manchester United are top-quality opposition. Going into this game, probably one of the most in-form teams in Europe.
"So, for your attacking players to be that devastating on the day and score that amount of goals I think bodes well for the future, in terms of Liverpool getting back to their old selves, taking teams apart and scoring goals."