7 duels won: National media laud Liverpool wizard as his country’s ‘best player’ in weekend win
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Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo earned widespread praise for his performance in the Netherlands' 3-2 victory against Lithuania in their Euro 2026 qualifying match. Despite Memphis Depay’s record-breaking brace grabbing headlines, Dutch media singled out Gakpo as the best player on the pitch. De Telegraaf named Gakpo the “best player” against Lithuania, with former Dutch international Wim Rijsbergen rating him 7 out of 10. Meanwhile, Algemeen Dagblad described him as “threatening,” awarding a 6.5 out of 10 score, and Voetbal gave him a 6 out of 10[1][4].
Statistically, Gakpo played the full 90 minutes, contributing one assist and creating three chances. He attempted four shots, completed five successful dribbles, and won seven duels throughout the match. He came very close to scoring himself, hitting the crossbar after beating his defender and cutting inside[1].
The 26-year-old winger’s strong international showing comes as he returns to Liverpool to await manager Arne Slot’s decision for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Burnley. Gakpo is expected to start that game, especially with Alexander Isak unlikely to be fully fit[1].
Off the pitch, Gakpo recently reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool by extending his contract until 2030, turning down interest from Bayern Munich. This extension solidifies his role in Liverpool's attacking plans and signals stability after significant squad changes, including the departure of Luis Diaz and the acquisition of players like Florian Wirtz and Isak. Gakpo emphasized his happiness at Anfield and the importance of patience and long-term team building[2].
PP