Liverpool secured a third successive Premier League clean sheet at the weekend, and Cody Gakpo, whom Liverpool have come to depend on, played a leading role in making it happen. His pinpoint delivery set up Alexander Isak for the goal that settled the contest against Bournemouth at Anfield.
It was the kind of contribution that has become familiar this season. Andoni Iraola trusted Gakpo to start on the flank once again, and the Dutch international repaid that faith with a moment of real quality. For a player some assumed might make way following the summer arrival of Bradley Barcola, it was a timely reminder of what he offers this Liverpool side.
The clean sheet itself deserves attention too. Three in a row in the league is no small feat in a division as unforgiving as this one, and it speaks to a defensive structure that is finally settling into shape under Iraola. Gakpo’s goal involvement simply added the attacking gloss to a genuinely well-rounded team performance.
Cody Gakpo Delivers Key Assist in Bournemouth Victory
Gakpo has quietly built a reputation as one of Liverpool’s most reliable performers in wide areas, and Saturday’s assist only strengthened that case. Reports covering the club’s stance on his long-term future, including our piece on the club stance on Gakpo, had already made clear that the hierarchy views him as central to their plans. Performances like this one explain exactly why.
What stood out against Bournemouth was how Gakpo created the goal. He showed patience, waited for the right moment, and then executed with real precision. That combination of composure and end product is precisely what Iraola wants from his wide players in the current system.
The assist also fits a broader pattern. Gakpo has repeatedly found ways to influence matches even when he is not the headline name in team news. Supporters who have followed his recent fitness will know how significant that consistency is, particularly given the recent winger fitness updates that surrounded both him and Barcola earlier in the campaign.
Gakpo Beats Tavernier and Truffert to Unlock Cherries
The mechanics of the assist tell their own story. Gakpo beat both Marcus Tavernier and Adrien Truffert in the build-up, dismantling Bournemouth’s defensive shape on that flank before delivering the cross that Isak converted. Two defenders committed to stopping him, and neither managed it.
That sequence is worth dwelling on. Bournemouth are not an easy side to break down out wide, and Iraola’s Cherries have built a reputation for disciplined, coordinated pressing. For Gakpo to isolate and beat two opponents in quick succession shows the kind of individual quality that can unlock even well-organised defences.
The full detail of the move was covered in the original Liverpool Echo report, which highlighted just how comfortable Gakpo looked carrying the ball into dangerous areas. It is a skill set that separates him from many orthodox wingers, since he is equally happy cutting inside or going down the line.
For Isak, the finish was straightforward once the cross arrived. The harder work had already been done by Gakpo, who turned a tight defensive situation into a clear scoring chance through sheer quality on the ball. It is exactly the sort of moment that decides tight Premier League matches.
Solid Foundation Underpins Iraola Selection Decisions
None of this happens in isolation. Iraola started both Barcola and Gakpo as his wingers against Bournemouth, a selection that reflects growing confidence in how the pair complement each other rather than compete for a single shirt. It is a clear signal of the head coach’s thinking heading into a demanding run of fixtures.
The defensive platform behind them matters just as much. A third consecutive clean sheet does not happen by accident, and it gives Iraola the freedom to be bold with his attacking selections. When the base is secure, wingers like Gakpo can focus on creating chances rather than tracking back constantly.
This is the balance every top-level coach chases. Defensive solidity buys attacking players room to express themselves, and Gakpo’s assist against Bournemouth was a direct product of that trust. Iraola has clearly identified a structure that allows his most creative players to flourish without exposing the team at the back.
It also suggests the manager sees Gakpo as more than squad depth. Starting him alongside a marquee summer signing in Barcola, rather than choosing between them, indicates that Iraola rates Gakpo’s contribution highly enough to build his selection around accommodating both.
Wing Competition Intensifies as Liverpool Build Momentum
Barcola’s arrival was always going to sharpen competition for wide areas, and that is precisely what has happened. Rather than being squeezed out, Gakpo has responded with performances that make him difficult to leave out. Our earlier reaction to Barcola arriving touched on exactly this dynamic, and Saturday’s display added fresh weight to it.
That is exactly why Cody Gakpo, around whom Liverpool built their attacking plans this season, looks such shrewd business. Healthy competition tends to raise standards across a squad, and Gakpo has met that challenge directly rather than being unsettled by it.
There is further context developing elsewhere in the squad too. Jeremy Jacquet has received his first call-up to the France senior squad, selected by head coach Zinedine Zidane for Nations League games against Turkey, Belgium and Italy. Jacquet joined Liverpool from Rennes for a potential £60 million fee, and international recognition this early underlines the calibre of player Iraola now has available across the squad.
Taken together, these developments paint a picture of a Liverpool side building real depth and momentum under Iraola. Gakpo’s continued excellence on the wing, Barcola’s growing partnership with him, and Jacquet’s rising international profile all point toward a squad with genuine competition for places. For supporters, the question now is not whether Gakpo deserves his spot, but how long Iraola can keep finding room for every player pushing to start.
