Phil Thompson hails Liverpool player who ‘really stepped up’ despite Man United defeat

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And then going on to play abysmally… Photo credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC Though it wasn’t to be in the end, and Liverpool went on to lose the game, former captain Phil Thompson claimed that Gakpo in particular deserved some praise for his performance.Gakpo continued improvement against UnitedAfter what has been a really difficult campaign for him, Gakpo has been better recently, and he continued that with a good display – and a first goal in 12 games – at Old Trafford.Starting on the left of the Liverpool attack, the Dutchman came to life when moved centrally in the second-half, and after seeing him finally score, Thompson picked him out as one of the game’s best performers.“You want him to step up, to be more involved,” he told The Official Liverpool FC Podcast.READ MORE: Mark Clattenburg says VAR failed Liverpool on two separate occasions against Manchester United“People think he’s a one-trick pony coming inside all the time, I would like him to go on the outside sometimes, you could get a corner kick or a throw-in sometimes, but it confuses the full-back or the midfield player, whoever’s taking you on. You need to do it more often, otherwise they’re just lining up for you to come inside, and that’s what frustrates most people with Cody.” Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images“I thought he played well today,” Thompson added.

“I thought he really stepped up. He was very, very clever in his movement, he was dropping off Maguire and the other centre-back, getting them turning, linking up a lot with Ryan Gravenberch who was getting between the lines.

“The first one I actually thought was in the back of the net. I thought he had a good game today, but it’s been a difficult season for him.”Now up to nine goals for the season – and 50 in his Liverpool career – the Reds will need to lean on Gakpo to get them over the line and into next season’s Champions League.He showed against United that he is perhaps the best option to lead the line in the absence of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, and if he starts next week’s clash with Chelsea, you would back him to get another goal.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox