Liverpool legend praises forward for performance in Man United defeat

Cody Gakpo Emerges as Liverpool Bright Spot Despite Man Utd Setback

Defeat away to Manchester United has become an uncomfortable rhythm for Liverpool this season, yet within the wreckage there are flickers of intent that demand attention. Chief among them is Cody Gakpo, who delivered a performance that hinted at sharper instincts and renewed authority in the attacking third. amunra.help

Liverpool were ragged before the interval, passive in midfield and exposed defensively. Two goals down at the break felt a fair reflection of their disjointed display. Yet the second half carried a different cadence. Gakpo, initially stationed wide, drifted into more central territory, where the game began to open around him.

His movement became less predictable, his involvement more assertive. It was from this repositioning that he found the net, ending a barren run and lifting Liverpool’s attacking tempo. The goal itself was a product of anticipation and timing, qualities that have not always been consistently evident in his campaign.

For a side chasing European qualification, such signs matter. Gakpo’s ability to occupy defenders and link play offers a structural alternative, particularly when Liverpool’s forward line lacks cohesion.

Photo: IMAGO

Phil Thompson verdict highlights improvement

Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson, on the official Liverpool podcast, was quick to underline Gakpo’s contribution, offering a measured but pointed assessment in quotes carried by the original source.

“I thought he played well today,” Thompson said. “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.”

That observation cuts to the core of Gakpo’s performance. Rather than remaining static or predictable, he manipulated space, drawing defenders into uncomfortable positions. His interplay with midfield runners added layers to Liverpool’s attacking patterns, even if the collective outcome fell short.

Thompson also addressed a broader critique of the Dutch forward’s style. “People think he’s a one-trick pony coming inside all the time. I would like him to go on the outside sometimes… it confuses the full-back.”

It is a tactical nuance worth noting. Gakpo’s inclination to cut inside has been scouted and managed by Premier League defenders. Variation, as Thompson suggests, could elevate his effectiveness and widen Liverpool’s attacking toolkit.

Salah presence contrasts with Gakpo resurgence

In contrast, the influence of Mohamed Salah remains a constant reference point. Salah’s output continues to anchor Liverpool’s attacking identity, yet performances like this highlight the need for complementary threats.

Where Salah operates with established rhythm and elite efficiency, Gakpo is still refining his role. Against Man Utd, the balance briefly looked more coherent when Gakpo assumed central responsibilities, allowing Salah to stretch play and occupy wider channels.

This interplay, if developed, could restore some of Liverpool’s attacking fluidity. The modern game demands multiple focal points, not a single axis of threat. Gakpo’s resurgence offers a route towards that evolution.

However, the broader context cannot be ignored. Liverpool’s inconsistency this season has left them vulnerable, and isolated individual performances, no matter how encouraging, cannot mask systemic issues.

Champions League chase demands consistency

With the race for Champions League qualification tightening, Liverpool require sustained output rather than sporadic flashes. Gakpo’s goal against Man Utd took him to nine for the season and 50 in a Liverpool shirt, a respectable tally that hints at underlying productivity.

Yet the margin for error is narrowing. Upcoming fixtures will test both tactical coherence and mental resilience. If Gakpo can replicate this level of involvement and diversify his attacking approach, he may yet become central to Liverpool’s late-season push.

The original source frames his display as a turning point rather than an isolated moment. That distinction is critical. In elite football, progression is measured not by singular performances but by the ability to reproduce them under pressure.

Liverpool’s defeat will dominate the immediate narrative, but within it lies a subplot of adaptation and potential. Gakpo, stepping forward when required, may yet reshape the closing chapter of their campaign.

Why Mercury are parting ways with Shay Ciezki despite 22.8 PPG Indiana season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Shay Ciezki did everything she could in her college career to earn a shot in the WNBA.

Despite that, the Phoenix Mercury waived her on Monday, according to the league's official transaction log.

Ciezki will likely clear waivers, at which point she'd be free to sign with any team in the league.

The 5-foot-7 guard originally from Lancaster, N.Y. began her college career at Penn State and finished it with the Indiana Hoosers.

At IU in 2025-26, Ciezki was an All-Big Ten player with huge numbers -- she averaged 22.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. She shot 52.6% from the floor, 44.6% from 3-point range and 90.8% from the foul line.

Those were some of the most efficient offensive numbers in the country, particularly at the guard spot.

Why did Mercury not keep Shay Ciezki?

Two things were working against Ciezki here: physical size and roster size.

At 5-foot-7, it's hard for guards to stick around a WNBA that's getting longer, taller and more athletic.

A player of Ciezki's ability can pull it off, but they don't often get the benefit of the doubt.

Roster size is the bigger factor. The WNBA is still a relatively small league compared to other professional sports in the U.S., and that means less available roster spots, particularly for undrafted players like Ciezki.

She'll have to work hard to get a true WNBA opportunity.

MORE: Chicago Sky say goodbye to Hailey Van Lith

Konrad Laimer could leave Bayern Munich this summer amid a major contract dispute.

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The Austrian international is understood to be demanding around €12m-15m [£10.3m-12.9m]. However, the Bundesliga champions are unwilling to go much past the €10m [£8.6m] mark.

With his contract expiring in June 2027, this will almost certainly encourage FC Bayern to consider a sale this summer.

Bayern put Konrad Laimer in his place

Uli Hoeneß, Bayern Munich’s Godfather, has made it absolutely clear that the club will not budge on their salary offer, in comments relayed by Fabrizio Romano on X (formerly Twitter).

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That’s an understandable position for Vincent Kompany’s side to take, given their own strict financial policies.

Not to mention the fact that significant contracts have already been handed out to the likes of Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich. Contract negotiations with Harry Kane ahead of the World Cup are unlikely to be cheap either!

But that’s still a massive shame considering the quality of service Laimer has provided, particularly in the absence of a starting right-back this term.

* Konrad Laimer’s Bundesliga stats this season (Fotmob)

Liverpool should consider swoop for Laimer this summer

While fans would be right to point out that Laimer (29) isn’t exactly the ideal age profile Liverpool tend to favour, he would bring a level of consistency and availability to the position that has been missing.

Conor Bradley is, without question, a remarkable operator on his day, but finds himself frequently battling injuries. Jeremie Frimpong, likewise, has his own reliability concerns, and there are question marks over whether the right-back position is even well-suited to the Dutchman long-term.

* Konrad Laimer’s Bundesliga stats in the 2025/26 season (Fotmob)

The attraction with Konrad Laimer is multi-faceted for Liverpool. He’s positionally versatile, for starters, being able to play at right-back and in the middle of the park – two areas in which we might find ourselves short on at times next season.

He’s one of the most creative presences on the pitch and has proved to be a key figure for Kompany’s men this term, despite largely playing at right-back.

And don’t forget that Laimer has previously sat on a shortlist at Liverpool.

Laimer’s wage demands will be a stumbling block

The big stumbling block, of course, will be the Bayern star’s significant wage demands.

The lower end of the scale at £10.3m per year would see Laimer clear Andy Robertson (£8.3m), Ibrahima Konate (£7.8m) and Jeremie Frimpong (£5.2m), according to Capology’s figures.

But if FC Bayern are looking to sell the fullback, perhaps he and his team could start to feel comfortable with the prospect of reducing such demands to meet the minimum bar of entry at a club like Liverpool.

While Bayern insider Christian Falk made clear recently that Liverpool weren’t ‘concretely interested’ in Laimer, we still think this could be one to watch.

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Ortiz, who was a member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame, competed in four Olympics (1988, 1992, 1996, 2004) and played in both the NBA and Spanish League. The former Real Madrid and Barcelona star passed away at 04.03 GMT on Tuesday.