BBC Sports pundit Dion Dublin has praised Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo for his efforts in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win over Fulham.
The Reds ace scored his side’s winner against the Cottagers, helping Jurgen Klopp’s charges come from a goal down to lead in the Anfield match and in the tie.
In the 71st minute, Diogo Jota ran down the left with the ball and found Darwin Nunez, who stayed onside and pulled the ball back for Gakpo.
The Dutchman weighed in with a powerful left-footed finish at the near post to put Liverpool 2-1 up in the match and in the tie.
Dublin, covering the match on BBC Radio 5 Live, liked what he saw from Gakpo and also from Nunez for his role in the goal.
“Diogo Jota down the left-hand side, forcing Darwin Nunez to make a run outside him,” said Dublin, as per the BBC Sport website.
“Drops it into Nunez, who fires a low ball across the box. Cody Gakpo gets across his defender as all good strikers do, and he smashes the ball into the back of the net. Great cut-back and finish.”
The Reds had fallen behind in the 19th minute at Anfield as Fulham’s Andreas Pereira made the most of a Reds defensive error to cut the ball back for Willian.
The veteran Brazilian rode a tackle and then showed some neat footwork before slotting at the near post past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool had to endure until the 68th minute before finding the equaliser. Darwin Nunez teed up Curtis Jones, who fired home from the edge of the box via a Tosin Adarabioyo deflection.
Then came Gakpo’s winner minutes later, and the Reds went on to secure a victory that will come as a relief to the Anfield faithful.
Nunez made a huge difference for Liverpool when he came off the bench, as did Jota, while Gakpo earned praise for getting the crucial winner for Klopp’s charges.
