Cody Gakpo continues to provide smart solutions to Dream Team problems

DREAM TEAM managers who opted to recruit Cody Gakpo (£4.7m) ahead of Gameweek 21 have already been handsomely rewarded.

The Liverpool scored two goals and assisted another in 68 minutes against Ipswich on Saturday for a 21-point haul, his best single-game return of the season.

Gakpo got the ball rolling with a deep cross to the back cross that was converted by Mohamed Salah (£8m).

Nine minutes later, he popped up in the right place at the right time to tap home a rebound from close range to give the Reds a 3-0 lead at half time.

Midway through the second half, the Dutchman latched onto a trademark Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m) cross to head home his second for a pleasing brace.

Only Bournemouth’s hat-trick hero Dango Ouattara (£3.4m) banked more points than Gakpo among all Dream Team assets over the weekend.

There’s every chance the Liverpool forward will finish as Gameweek 21’s top performer if he gets substantial minutes against former club PSV on Wednesday night.

At the risk of blowing our own trumpet, Gakpo headlined our transfer recommendations article last Thursday and gaffers who acted on that recommendation will have been immensely satisfied with Saturday’s outcome – any returns in Eindhoven will be a nice bonus.

Gakpo isn’t just a short-term punt either, he appears to be a smart selection for Gameweeks 22 and 23 as well.

Arne Slot’s side are due to face Bournemouth and Tottenham next Gameweek and are currently one of just two teams set for a double header in Gameweek 23 in the form of Plymouth and Everton – although the schedule may change depending on this week’s European results.

The point being, Gakpo has more point-scoring opportunities than most over the next three weeks or so.

The 25-year-old has completed 90 minutes six times from 32 appearances this season so his owners will have to make their peace with regular substitutions.

But the numbers are looking good in the metrics that really matter.

Gakpo is one of just four forwards on 200+ points this stage, alongside Salah, Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Alexander Isak (£6.1m).

He ranks third for big chances created, sixth for shots on target, fifth for bonus points, and seventh for tackles among players in his position.

At the top line, he’s scored 14 goals and provided five assists.

A few weeks back we asked whether Gakpo had surpassed Luis Diaz (£3.7m) to become Liverpool’s next-best attacking option in the world of Dream Team, with Salah being the clear number one.

Given he’s outscored his Colombian team-mate by 25 points since the start of Gameweek 18, the answer to that question has to be a resounding YES!

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk