It ultimately brought Liverpool nothing on Sunday evening, but Cody Gakpo did manage to score his 50th goal for the club against Manchester United.
Gakpo reaches 50 Liverpool goals despite painful defeat at Manchester United
Cody Gakpo reached an important personal milestone on Sunday evening, although it came on a frustrating day for Liverpool. The Netherlands international scored his 50th goal for the club in the 3-2 defeat away to Manchester United, a result that gave him little reason to celebrate despite another reminder of his growing importance at Anfield.
For Liverpool, the trip to Old Trafford ended in disappointment. A match against Manchester United is never just another fixture, and losing 3-2 to a historic rival always carries extra weight. The scoreline reflected the intensity and drama of the contest, but from a Liverpool perspective, the main positive was Gakpo adding another goal to his record and reaching a mark that underlines his consistency since arriving from PSV.
Gakpo has not always been the loudest figure in this Liverpool side, nor has he always been the player receiving the most attention, but his numbers tell a clear story. Since moving to England, he has steadily built a respectable record in attack, contributing goals from different positions and adapting to several tactical roles. Against Manchester United, he once again showed his ability to appear in dangerous areas and make an impact, even on an afternoon when the final result went against his team.
The 50-goal milestone has arrived a little over 3 years after Gakpo first found the net for Liverpool. His first goal came on 13 February 2023, in a 2-0 victory over Everton at Anfield. That was a significant moment for him, not only because it opened his account for the club, but also because it came in a Merseyside derby. Mohamed Salah had given Liverpool the lead, and shortly after half-time Gakpo added the second goal, giving supporters an early glimpse of the composure and timing that had made him such a wanted player during his time in the Netherlands.
Only a month and a half before that first Liverpool goal, Gakpo had completed his move from PSV to Anfield for 42 million euros. It was a major step in his career. He arrived from Dutch football with a strong reputation, but the Premier League is a very different environment. The speed, physicality and pressure are greater, and the demands at a club like Liverpool are immediate. New signings are rarely given much time to settle, especially attacking players who are expected to contribute quickly.
Gakpo did need a period of adaptation, but he soon began to find his place. In his first half-season at Liverpool, he scored 7 goals in total, including that derby goal against Everton. Those early months were important because they allowed him to understand the rhythm of English football, the expectations of the supporters and the tactical requirements of the team. He was used in different attacking roles, sometimes through the middle, sometimes from wider areas, and gradually became a useful option in several zones of the pitch.
His second season brought further growth. Gakpo scored 16 times for Liverpool, with 8 of those goals coming in the Premier League. That production showed that he was becoming more settled and more comfortable in the team. He was not simply a squad player adding occasional contributions; he was developing into someone capable of influencing matches across different competitions. His finishing, movement and link-up play all became increasingly valuable.
The third season was his most productive period so far in a Liverpool shirt. In a campaign that ended with Liverpool winning the league title, Gakpo scored 18 goals. He found the net 10 times in the Premier League, 3 times in the Champions League and 5 times in the League Cup. That spread across competitions highlighted one of his main qualities: reliability. Whether starting a major league match, appearing in Europe or being used in domestic cup football, Gakpo continued to deliver.
This season has been less prolific by comparison, but he has still remained involved in the final third. His goal against Manchester United was his 7th in the Premier League this campaign, while he has also scored twice in the Champions League. Those figures may not match the level he reached in the previous title-winning season, but they still show a player who continues to contribute even when he is not at his sharpest or when Liverpool are going through more complicated moments.
Reaching 50 goals in 177 appearances is a strong return for a player who has often had to adapt to changing roles. Gakpo has not always played as a fixed centre-forward, nor has he always been treated as the main finisher in the side. He has often been asked to combine, press, rotate positionally and support others in attack. That makes the milestone more meaningful, because it has been achieved through versatility as much as pure finishing.
His 20 assists for Liverpool also add important context. Gakpo is not only a goalscorer. He is a forward who can connect attacks, create space for teammates and help Liverpool maintain fluency in advanced areas. His profile is different from a traditional penalty-box striker. He can drift into deeper positions, receive between the lines and link with midfielders before arriving in the box. That variety has made him useful to different managers and in different tactical plans.
At the same time, his goal against Manchester United will have mixed emotions attached to it. Scoring at Old Trafford is always special for a Liverpool player, but doing so in a defeat removes much of the satisfaction. Gakpo will know that individual records matter far less when the team comes away empty-handed. At a club with the ambition and history of Liverpool, milestones are appreciated, but results always come first.
That is why the match will probably be remembered more for the defeat than for the personal landmark. Manchester United took the victory, Liverpool left with frustration, and Gakpo was left with a goal that added to his career record but did not change the outcome. Still, in a long season, these moments matter. Players build confidence through goals, and forwards in particular often use milestones as fuel for the matches ahead.
For Liverpool, Gakpo remains an important attacking option. His ability to play in several positions gives the team flexibility, and his experience in high-pressure matches continues to grow. He has already scored in major fixtures, contributed in trophy-winning campaigns and shown that he can handle the demands of English football. The next challenge is to rediscover the level of consistency that made his previous season so strong.
The timing of the milestone is also relevant for the Netherlands. Gakpo is expected to represent the Dutch national team at the World Cup next month, and he will go into that tournament with another significant club achievement behind him. For Oranje, he has scored 19 goals in 48 international appearances, a record that confirms his value beyond Liverpool. He has often looked comfortable on the international stage, where his directness, movement and finishing make him a dangerous attacking weapon.
Gakpo has already shown in previous major tournaments that he can make the difference for the Netherlands. His development at Liverpool has added more layers to his game, particularly in terms of decision-making, physical duels and adapting to different attacking structures. That experience should benefit him when he returns to international duty, especially in matches where space is limited and efficiency becomes decisive.
For now, however, the immediate focus returns to Liverpool. A 3-2 defeat against Manchester United is the kind of result that demands a response, regardless of individual achievements. The team will need to recover quickly, correct the mistakes that proved costly at Old Trafford and ensure that the setback does not become part of a wider problem.
Gakpo, meanwhile, can take personal pride from reaching 50 goals for the club. It is a milestone that reflects patience, adaptation and steady productivity. He arrived from PSV as a talented forward with promise, and he has become a proven Liverpool attacker with a meaningful record. The defeat at Old Trafford will hurt, but his place in the Liverpool story continues to grow.
On a day when Liverpool left Manchester with nothing, Gakpo at least reached a number that deserves recognition. 50 goals in a Liverpool shirt is not a small achievement. The next challenge is to make sure the next goals come in victories, in decisive moments and in matches that help Liverpool move closer to the standards the club demands.
