Brilliant Gakpo brace helps Liverpool edge Brighton
AT THE DOUBLE: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring during the English League Cup soccer match between Brighton and Liverpool. Pic: AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
CODY Gakpo pressed his claims to feature more prominently in Arne Slot’s starting line-up with two brilliant finishes that helped maintain Liverpool’s defence of the Carabao Cup and extend the manager’s outstanding start since taking charge at Anfield.
Gakpo, the Netherlands winger has started just two Premier League games this season but he provided Slot with a timely reminder of his goal threat in a much-changed Reds line-up.
Gakpo’s efforts appeared to have set his side on course for a comfortable passage into the quarter-finals but Simon Adringa’s 81st-minute reply and then Tariq Lamptey’s 90th-minute effort, six minutes after Luis Diaz had restored Liverpool’s two-goal lead, ensured the final whistle was greeted with a sense of relief by Slot and his players.
Gakpo, who scored twice in the defeat of West Ham in the previous round, posed a significant danger to Brighton throughout, repeatedly threatening down the Liverpool left and eventually giving his side what would prove to be a decisive advantage, underling his value to Slot.
“Cody has been a good player for Liverpool for a long time now,” said the Liverpool manager. “He continues to be that and that is a good thing.
"For me he is a regular starter. He doesn't start every game but on a regular basis. He is in tough competition with Luis Diaz but that is normal at a club like Liverpool, two quality players in each position.”
The late defensive lapse was a cause for concern for Slot but overall he could be satisfied with the performance of his side as they secured a 12th win in the opening 14 games of the season.
The manager's decision to start without a recognised striker paid off.
“I prefer to play with a nine but if they are not available, we had Darwin Nunez available but it was not good for him to start today with the schedule," said the manager. “The players did really well.”
The defeat was only Brighton’s second loss since Fabian Hurzeler took charge this summer and the Albion head coach conceded his side had failed to make the most of the chances that came their way.
“It is disappointing to go out of this game, be out of the cup,” he said. “But we were not ruthless enough. Liverpool scored at the right moments. They scored out of nowhere with an unbelievable shot. They had timing on their side today and we were not able to reply in the right moments.”
Gakpo served notice of his threat with an early shot after a Liverpool counter-attack and continued to threaten down the left.
It was evident Brighton would have to find a way to plug the gaps on the right-hand side of their defence. The opening minute of the second half, though, confirmed they hadn’t landed on a solution during the half time break.
Less than a minute after the restart, Tyler Morton lifted a ball into the vacant area behind the home defence on the Liverpool left, presenting Gakpo with the chance to advance in the penalty area before beating Jason Steele and inside the far post.
It was a devastating finish and an immediate blow to Brighton. Yet to their credit, Hurzeler’s side responded well, creating a succession of chances that might have brought an equaliser a shot on the turn by Evan Ferguson.
But they allowed Gakpo the chance to drill home a second after a mistake by Tariq Lamptey.
An 81st-minute error by Jarrell Quansah allowed Adringa to bring Brighton back into it when he followed up Ferguson’s shot. Diaz calmed Liverpool nerves three minutes later but Lamptey’s deflected shot maintained the tension to the end.
Steele 6; Lamptey 5, van Hecke 6 (Veltman 68, 6), Igor 6, Kadioglu 6 (Estupinan 46, 6); Wieffer 7, Moder 6 (Hinshelwood 68, 6); Adingra 7, Enciso 6 (Welbeck 76, 6), Gruda 6 (Mitoma,76, 6); Ferguson 6.
Jaros 7; Bradley 6, Gomez 6, Quansah 5 (Konate 90, 6), Robertson 7; Morton 7 (Mac Allister 65, 6), Endo 6 (Nyoni 65, 6), Szoboszlai 7 (Nunez 71, 6); Diaz 7, Jones 6, Gakpo 9 (Salah 70, 6).
Darren Bond 6
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