Nazira 'Naz' Yusuf is a freelance football journalist who writes about Liverpool for Read Liverpool and Crystal Palace for Read Crystal Palace. She also reports on Liverpool's men's and women's teams for Hayters TV, and has written for Rush the Kop and Live4Liverpool.
There is an eerie predictability about Cody Gakpo under the Anfield floodlights in the League Cup. Whenever the Dutchman steps onto the pitch for a Carabao Cup tie on home turf, he scores. It isn’t just a streak anymore—it feels almost preordained.
On Wednesday night, as Andoni Iraola’s heavily rotated Liverpool side fell behind to Xabi Alonso’s visiting Chelsea, the home crowd barely had time to register anxiety. Gakpo stepped up from 12 yards, calmly slotted home the equalizer, and later repeated the trick in the shootout as the Reds prevailed 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
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The victory marks five consecutive wins across all competitions for Liverpool. With Arsenal up next on Sunday in the Premier League, the Reds are locked into a crucial stretch of four straight matches at Anfield.
It Gives Us Energy Nobody Thought They Had”
Speaking after the match, Gakpo reflected on the unique environment Anfield creates when a game hangs in the balance, calling the atmosphere “magical”.
“Yeah, it is,” Gakpo told Liverpoolfc.com. “Everybody in the stands knows this as well, and when we have a little bit of momentum or a good moment then they get behind us with everything they’ve got.”
“I have to say, it always gives us energy which nobody thought they had. It’s very helpful and obviously we are very appreciative of that and we always try to give back.”
Navigating a knockout match against top-tier opposition without extra time requires a distinct level of focus, as Gakpo pointed out:
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“Again, [we played] a tough opponent. It ended 1-1 so it was penalties. We had to be super-focused, you know that there’s no extra-time so it’s straight to penalties. We obviously had a little bit of an advantage with the crowd and being at home, so that was nice. I think in the end, a good win.”
Penalty Practice Pays Off
With regular penalty takers Dominik Szoboszlai out and Alexis Mac Allister starting on the bench, Gakpo knew before kickoff that he was tasked with spot-kick duties.
“It was a possibility [the tie would go to penalties], obviously we knew that,” he revealed. “The coach said it as well [on Tuesday] so everybody took one. I was on pens because obviously Dom [Szoboszlai] is not here and Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] wasn’t playing.”
“You’re kind of hoping there will be a penalty… and it happened! It doesn’t happen that often this season but I was happy it was me that could take it.”
“Every player does it differently. For me, it was straight – I try to pick a side before I shoot and then just go full confidence in that side and try to hit it as well as I can.”
Gakpo’s 11th League Cup goal in 14 matches places him in elite company alongside club icons like Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, and Kenny Dalglish for total competition goals in a Liverpool shirt.
Liverpool’s reward for dispatching Chelsea is a home quarter-final against AFC Bournemouth in mid-December. The draw provides Iraola’s squad with four consecutive home games leading into Christmas, avoiding exhausting travel during the congested festive schedule.
“Of course, the further you go in the tournament the closer it gets to the silverware and it’s a competition which goes fast, you play the final in February or March,” Gakpo added. “So, it can be a quick silverware for the team and can also give you a boost for the end of the season as well.”
Gakpo’s evolution into our reliable cup talisman is immensely satisfying. He doesn’t command headline-grabbing drama or constant transfer chatter, but his output in high-stakes situations is unmatched.
To score in every single League Cup match at Anfield and lead all players across the country in Carabao Cup goals since 2023/24 is a ridiculous metric. As we prepare to host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, knowing we have players like Gakpo who thrive under the pressure of the Kop gives every Liverpool fan total confidence.
Cody Gakpo has scored in EVERY League Cup appearance he's made at Anfield.
He’s scored more goals than any other player in the competition since the start of the 2023/24 season (11). 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MNcP7uCOVv
Nazira 'Naz' Yusuf is a freelance football journalist who writes about Liverpool for Read Liverpool and Crystal Palace for Read Crystal Palace. She also reports on Liverpool's men's and women's teams for Hayters TV, and has written for Rush the Kop and Live4Liverpool.
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