Cody Gakpo Sends Arne Slot a Message as the Liverpool Forward Scores Brace Against Brighton

Dutch manager praises striker after a remarkable brace secured a narrow victory for the Merseyside club at Brighton.

For Liverpool and Arne Slot, the journey continues. This triumph at Brighton marked their seventh win out of eight undefeated away matches across all competitions this season. Yet, the manager remained grounded.

“It has only been eight games,” he said, after his side had registered a 3-2 victory against a determined, effortful Brighton side. “But yes, it is a very good start away from home.”

For the Liverpool manager, this midweek cup tie could hardly have been more perfect. It allowed his fringe players to gain valuable playing time, gave him a chance to experiment with some tactical adjustments, and provided Cody Gakpo with an opportunity to show why he deserves a regular spot in the lineup.

Gakpo’s two goals early in the second half showcased a player in top form. Sharp, precise, and effective, they embodied everything a striker hopes for.

Arne Slot Speaks on Cody Gakpo Contribution

“Cody has been a good player for Liverpool for a long time – that is a good thing for me,” said Slot of his forward’s contribution. “For me he is a regular, even if he does not start every game.”

Both managers approached the game with a shared understanding that the primary aim of the Carabao Cup is to provide opportunities for fringe players.

Liverpool’s bench was stacked with regulars, while the players on the field sported high shirt numbers, reminiscent of a Chinese takeaway menu in a nod to Danny Baker’s classic joke. Jarrell Quansah wore 78, Tyler Morton 80, and Conor Bradley 84. Klopp also gave a debut start to his third-choice goalkeeper, Vitezslav Jaros.

Ahead of Jaros, a clear tactical experiment unfolded. Klopp opted to start with two false nines, positioning Dominik Szoboszlai as the most forward player in the center, with Curtis Jones just behind, while Diaz and Gakpo took the wide positions.

“I prefer to play with a number nine, but if they are none available then this was the result we tried to come up with. Yes, [Darwen] Nunez was on the bench. But we have to be careful with him not to start three games in a row.”

Brighton, like Liverpool with a bench full of first-team players ready to step in if necessary, fielded a number of less regular players in this match. The difference was noticeable. The first half felt uninspired and slow, with both teams merely going through the motions without any real spark.

The second half, however, brought a noticeable shift in energy. Perhaps realising their opportunity was slipping away, Brighton’s fringe players seemed to find a new intensity. Gakpo, almost immediately after the restart, fired a powerful shot past Jason Steele and celebrated with a calm composure, as though scoring in that manner was routine for him.

Brighton soon responded, showing their resilience as a team. Tariq Lamptey made a blazing run down the wing, skillfully bypassing two Liverpool defenders before delivering a cross to Simon Adingra.

Left unmarked, Adingra directed a precise header toward the corner of the goal. However, Jaros had other plans, arching his back impressively to tip the ball onto the post. His manager, watching from the sidelines, applauded in appreciation of his effort.

“Everybody could see how important his saves were,” said Slot. “But also added to that was how comfortable he was with the ball at his feet. I was very pleased with him.”

Every move Jaros could make, Steele was there to counter, stepping up when Lamptey stumbled while trying to retrieve a clearance from a Brighton corner. This slip allowed Diaz and Gakpo a clear path toward goal, yet Steele managed to block Diaz’s shot in an impressive show of reflexes.

However, the crowd’s sigh of relief was short-lived. Gakpo seized on another error by Lamptey, surged forward, and delivered a powerful strike that found the back of the net, putting his team further ahead.

At this point, Slot made his intentions clear by bringing on Nunez, Mohamed Salah, and Alexis Mac Allister—who was warmly welcomed by his former fans in the stands—demonstrating that he was fully committed to pushing for a result.

In response, Fabian Hurzeler introduced Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck. Almost immediately, Brighton managed to pull one back, as Jaros blocked Ferguson’s shot only for Adingra to pounce and tuck it away.

Lamptey soon redeemed himself with a second goal for Brighton, arriving just after Diaz weaved through the defense to score a third, seemingly sealing the outcome. For a moment, it looked like Brighton might mount a full comeback.

Yet Liverpool, showing their maturity and strategic play, were not about to let this chance slip. Slot’s impressive away record continues to strengthen, as Liverpool seized this opportunity to advance with a confident performance.

In other news, Arne Slot Drops Wataru Endo Hint After Substituting Liverpool Midfielder in Carabao Cup Win Against Brighton