Cody Gakpo has delivered a message to Jürgen Klopp with two goals against LASK, which might be enough to influence the Liverpool manager’s current choice in his team.

Jürgen Klopp couldn’t have hoped for much more from his Liverpool team against LASK. A comfortable performance with a sweeping scoreline, and the odds were in Liverpool’s favor due to the outcome of the other game in this group between Union SG and Toulouse.

That means Klopp’s team has qualified for the round of 16, which is a great lift for Liverpool, and it also means the last game of the group stages will be a chance for Klopp to rest a few players and even try out some new ideas.

Given that the Reds have a hectic schedule during the holidays, the break will be welcome. But, although the outcome was crucial for Liverpool versus LASK, some of the club’s players had considerably more at risk.

Games like these in the Europa League provide a chance for Klopp’s periphery players to make a statement and send a message to the Liverpool manager by putting in a strong performance. Cody Gakpo, who played the whole 90 minutes and scored two well-taken goals, was one such player.

Gakpo has lately been chastised on social media for being out of shape, yet nothing could be farther from the truth. In his past ten starts and six substitute appearances for club and country, the Dutchman has nine goals and one assist.

Gakpo has played a total of 851 minutes since the September international break, averaging a goal or an assist every 85 minutes. Even after subtracting his goals for the Netherlands, Gakpo has six goals and an assist in seven starts for Liverpool.

That is the mark of a capable striker who deserves to be given frequent chances. However, it seems that Klopp favors Darwin Nez in the number nine position for the time being. Meanwhile, on the left flank, Diogo Jota and Luis Daz have grabbed the most of the starts.

But having Gakpo on top of those possibilities, especially in such good form, can only be a plus. Competition promotes success in a team, and the more everyone gives their all, the more Liverpool’s attackers will push each other to new heights.

Based on how well Nez, Jota, Daz, Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah have performed this season, they are live evidence of it, and Klopp will be pleased that his Dutchman scored at the right moment against LASK. It remains to be seen if this is enough to earn Gakpo a starting spot against Fulham in the Premier League this weekend.