Anything less than three points against West Ham would have been unacceptable for Liverpool and so it’s just as well for Arne Slot’s sake that his team found top form in a 5-2 win over relegation-threatened opposition. The Reds produced a performance that was somewhat closer to the sort of display they offered up regularly last season.
Liverpool’s Dutch striker #18 Cody Gakpo (R) celebrates with Liverpool’s French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike (L) after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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Hugo Ekitike was in excellent form, opening the scoring in the first five minutes and registering two more assists for good measure. Dominik Szoboszlai was another standout performer, also finding the back of the net and providing forward thrust through the centre of the field.
Cody Gakpo was one of five different goalscorers for the defending Premier League champions, registering his sixth league goal of the campaign. The Netherlands international has come in for some criticism recently, but this was a strong response by the player still seen by Slot as Liverpool’s first-choice left winger.
Liverpool is in the middle of a transition. It spent big last summer on the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in preparation for a new era. With many expecting Mohamed Salah to leave Anfield at the end of the season, that new era could start for real this summer.
Gakpo bridges two different eras for Liverpool. Signed by the club in January 2023, the Dutch forward has been reliably productive over the past four seasons, but some supporters believe Liverpool could find an upgrade on him to elevate the level of the forward line even further.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 26: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, speaks with Cody Gakpo of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Part of the problem is that Gakpo is most comfortable as a centre forward. That’s where he played for Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup when he caught Liverpool’s eye in the first place. Slot, however, already has Ekitike and Isak to choose from in the centre forward position.
Isak’s return from injury could push Ekitike out to the left wing which would in turn relegate Gakpo to the bench. This could be how Slot evolves his forward line with Ekitike and Isak potentially the most dangerous front two in the Premier League. This is the attack Liverpool could build around for several seasons to come.
Keeping Gakpo around would be a good idea. The 26-year-old can operate in a number of different positions across the forward line and has proved himself as up to the level of the Premier League. If the opportunity presents itself, though, Liverpool could be forgiven for replacing Gakpo, as many supporters want it to do.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/grahamruthven/2026/02/28/is-cody-gakpo-doing-enough-to-be-a-key-player-for-liverpool/
