Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz respond to Cody Gakpo ‘moving’ post
Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz have responded to their teammate Cody Gakpo on social media after beating Newcastle.
The Dutch international forward came off the bench to play 28 minutes against the Magpies in a comfortable 2-0 win (26 February).
Mohamed Salah thought he had earnt Liverpool a penalty in the sixth minute, but referee Stuart Attwell gave a free-kick against the Egyptian winger for a shove on Lewis Hall.
Just five minutes later, the Reds would find an opener, as Diaz set-up Dominik Szoboszlai for a neat left-footed finish, following a swift counter-attack.
Diogo Jota wrestled past Fabian Schar after 30 minutes, and looked to be through on goal, before Attwell halted play, much to the frustration of the Portguese forward.
Liverpool scored their second just past the hour mark, with Alexis Mac Allister doubling the Red’s lead.
The final third of the match was a quiet affair, with Newcastle lacking any real threat without Liverpool target Alexander Isak leading the front-line.
The result now puts the Merseyside club 13 points clear of Arsenal, as the Gunners failed to beat Nottingham Forest.
Cody Gakpo form masks Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez struggles
The former PSV Eindhoven forward is in his third season with the club, and despite suffering some minor injuries, it has been his best yet.
Gakpo has looked confident and capable when starting for Liverpool, and his versatility has allowed Arne Slot to use him at both left-wing, and striker, to great effect.
While Jota and Darwin Nunez have struggled to impress this season, the 25-year-old has made great strides under his new manager.
| 2024/25 Premier League stats | Gakpo |
| Appearances | 26 |
| Starts | 16 |
| Goals | 8 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Minutes | 1,412 |
The Dutch international posted a series of photos of himself in action on his Instagram, after the win over Newcastle, captioned: “Step by step, we moving forward.”
His captain and international teammate, Van Dijk, then responded with a love heart, and Diaz responded with a fire emoji, showing support for Gakpo.
Liverpool look to shuffle front-line with summer move for Alexander Isak
Football Insider Verdict
Nunez has been linked with a move away from Liverpool in the summer, and they may look to replace the Uruguayan with Isak.
However, even if the Swedish forward proves to be unattainable, Gakpo has proven himself to be an excellent striker for the Reds this season.
The biggest concern at the moment, remains the status of Salah’s contract, with the Egyptian yet to put pen to paper on a deal that expires in the summer.