Top News

20 June 2026

Liverpool supporters would have found the moment familiar. It was the 54th minute of the Netherlands’ World Cup clash with Sweden when Cody Gakpo collected the ball on the left side of the penalty area and cut inside onto his right foot.

In the Premier League, Liverpool’s version of Gakpo often sends the ball flying into the stands from that same position. But this was the World Cup edition of Gakpo — the Netherlands’ Gakpo — graceful, composed, and clinical. After steadying himself, he unleashed a precise strike past Sweden goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

Gakpo’s goal was his fifth in seven World Cup appearances, extending a rich vein of form in the Netherlands’ 5-1 victory. In total, he now boasts 23 goals in 52 international matches, maintaining a rate of better than one goal every two games.

It would be unfair to claim that Gakpo has never produced such performances for Liverpool. The forward netted 18 goals in the club’s 2024-25 Premier League-winning campaign and played a crucial role under Arne Slot, combining relentless off-the-ball work with attacking sharpness.

However, those standout displays have become less frequent. Last season, Gakpo managed only nine goals in 52 matches. His overall record for Liverpool stands at 50 goals in 180 appearances — respectable, but not quite what the club envisioned when they signed him from PSV following his electric World Cup in Qatar, where he scored in all three group matches.

When asked why he thrives more freely for his country, Gakpo offered a thoughtful response: “It’s a little bit different,” he said. “How I play here, where the coach wants me to be, the freedom that I have at the club,” he explained, pausing momentarily as if reconsidering his words. “That’s it basically.”

In Houston, Gakpo benefitted from the presence of Brian Brobbey, the Sunderland striker who tormented Sweden’s defence throughout the match. Atalanta centre-back Isak Hien struggled to cope with Brobbey’s combination of strength and speed, which produced two early goals.

“We always knew about his qualities — he’s very strong, really strong,” Gakpo said with a smile. “His hold-up play and timing in the box are fantastic. We used him perfectly today, especially on the quick counters. On the first goal, he held the ball up and then powered towards goal. We played to his strengths, and I’m delighted for him scoring twice.”

Before the tournament, the Dutch attack had been viewed as the team’s weak link. Their defence, featuring Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven, and Denzel Dumfries, looked world class, while a midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, and Tijjani Reijnders promised control and creativity.

The question was: where would the goals come from? Brobbey had just one goal in 13 caps before this match. Gakpo’s club form had been inconsistent. Crysencio Summerville had endured relegation with West Ham. With Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst also in the squad, there seemed a lack of fresh attacking spark.

But coach Ronald Koeman’s decision to replace Summerville with Brobbey after the 2-2 draw against Japan transformed the frontline. The result was a fluid, dynamic attack that dismantled Sweden with ease.

Brobbey and Gakpo both struck twice, while Summerville added the fifth. Assists came from Gakpo, Summerville, Memphis (as a substitute), and Dumfries — who contributed two from right-back. Suddenly, the Netherlands looked far from short of firepower.

“We have a lot of different qualities,” Gakpo said. “We’ve got pace, strength, good hold-up play, and we’re dangerous inside the box. Memphis showed his class again. Even our bench has Justin Kluivert and Weghorst, who haven’t played yet, so the squad has great variety and options to help in any moment.”

Reflecting on the contrast with their previous game, he added: “Japan were very disciplined, and we didn’t have many big chances then. Today, there was more variation in our attacks, more movement and rotation, which made it harder for defenders to track us. Maybe that was just the little spark we missed last time.”