Cody Gakpo reached a significant Liverpool landmark on Sunday, even if the wider feeling after Old Trafford was frustration rather than celebration.
His goal in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United took the Dutch forward to 50 for the club, giving supporters one clear positive to hold onto ahead of a big response against Chelsea.
What happened?
Liverpool’s spirited second-half revival ultimately ended in disappointment on Sunday, as Manchester United snatched a 3-2 victory in a breathless encounter.
Despite erasing a two-goal deficit to pull level, the Reds were unable to hold onto the momentum, leaving Old Trafford empty-handed despite a historic afternoon for Cody Gakpo.
The first half belonged entirely to the hosts. Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko exploited gaps in the Liverpool defense to put the Red Devils in a commanding position.
Liverpool emerged from the tunnel a different side, however, as a quick-fire double stunned the home fans: Dominik Szoboszlai hammered home a lifeline early in the second half. Cody Gakpo then followed up with a clinical finish to level the score and mark his 50th goal for the club.
Gakpo’s equaliser etched his name into the Anfield record books. By netting his 50th goal in just 177 appearances, he becomes the 58th player in Liverpool history to reach the half-century mark. It was a moment of individual brilliance that momentarily looked to have saved the match for the visitors.
The breakdown underlines how useful he has become across competitions too. Thirty-two of those goals have come in the Premier League, with nine in the Carabao Cup, five in the Champions League and four in the Europa League. Liverpool also highlighted that Gakpo is only the second Dutch player to reach 50 goals for the club, following Dirk Kuyt.
Why it matters for Liverpool
This is the kind of milestone that matters more in context than in isolation. Liverpool did not get the result they wanted at Old Trafford, but Gakpo once again showed he can produce when the side need a lift.
With Mohamed Salah currently out injured and due to leave at the end of the season, Liverpool need reliable attacking numbers from elsewhere in the forward line. Gakpo reaching 50 is a reminder that, despite the scrutiny he sometimes faces, he is already delivering a serious return in red.
There is also a timely bigger-picture point here for supporters. Liverpool still have work to do in the race to secure Champions League qualification, and Arne Slot’s side need players who can turn momentum quickly in difficult matches. Gakpo did exactly that with his goal during the second-half comeback at United, even if the recovery ultimately fell short.
The wider context
Gakpo opened his Liverpool account against Everton in February 2023 and has steadily built a stronger goals record than many supporters probably realise. Reaching 50 goals before the end of his fourth full season is a healthy benchmark, especially given he has often been asked to play different roles across the front line.
The timing also matters. Liverpool are heading into the final stretch of the season after a damaging defeat, with Chelsea up next at Anfield before meetings with Aston Villa and Brentford. In that setting, individual attacking confidence becomes especially important.
What happens next
The immediate task for Arne Slot side is turning the frustration of Old Trafford into a response against Chelsea. Gakpo’s goal and his growing output should put him firmly in the conversation to play a major role again.
If he finishes the campaign strongly, this milestone will start to look less like a neat statistic and more like evidence that he is becoming one of the key attacking pillars Liverpool can build around in the post-Salah picture.
ReadLiverpool verdict
This is not a story to overhype after a defeat, but it is a genuinely useful one. Gakpo’s 50-goal mark is a reminder that Liverpool already have a forward capable of producing meaningful numbers, and the run-in now feels like a big chance for him to turn that solid return into real authority.
