Gakpo makes his case, loudly

There was a moment not too long ago when Cody Gakpo looked destined to leave Anfield. Interest from Tottenham and Manchester City during the summer had made his future genuinely uncertain. Fast forward to Wednesday night and he was the man tearing Tottenham apart in a 3-1 Carabao Cup victory that sent Liverpool into the fourth round. Football can be beautifully poetic sometimes.

Gakpo had a hand in all three goals, scoring one, providing the assist for Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning stoppage-time strike, and playing a key role in the build-up to Alexis Mac Allister's opener. That kind of all-round contribution is not something you stumble into. It speaks to a player who is finding his rhythm and his confidence in equal measure. Across all competitions this season, he now carries two goals and four assists from just a handful of appearances, numbers that paint a clear picture of a man who has found his groove.

What Iraola really thinks

After the final whistle, Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola did not hold back when asked about his forward. "Cody gives us not just the goals and the assists," Iraola said. "He gives us also physicality, he is calm on the ball and also players like him, Ronald (Araujo) and Alexis, in a team that is quite young, I think his experience has helped us a lot."

That is significant praise, and it goes well beyond the raw numbers. Iraola is pointing to something less visible on a highlights reel, the steadying influence Gakpo brings to a relatively young squad. For a side that is still finding its identity under a new manager, having experienced, composed heads in the final third is worth more than any transfer fee. The irony that one of the clubs who wanted him this summer ended up on the wrong end of a Gakpo masterclass will not be lost on anyone at Anfield.

Iraola also had plenty to say about Szoboszlai's spectacular clincher. "The thing with Dom is that before shooting, you are trusting he might score," he said. "With another player you are thinking it's maybe too far but with Dom everyone is thinking he might score." High praise for a goal the Liverpool boss himself described as "a worldie", and difficult to argue with.

Gomez's comeback and what comes next

The other significant subplot from the evening centred on Joe Gomez, who made his return from a two-month injury lay-off. The Liverpool vice-captain was withdrawn at half-time, though Iraola was quick to reassure supporters that this was nothing to worry about. "Yes, it was (planned)," the head coach confirmed. "I think Joe has been doing the recovery very well. With him it makes sense. It wasn't set but the plan was not a lot more than 45, yes."

Managed minutes for a returning vice-captain, three goals, and a place in the next round. All things considered, a good night's work. Liverpool now turn their attention to Sunday's Premier League fixture at Bournemouth, a trip that carries its own narrative, given it is Iraola's former club. Whether that adds any extra edge to proceedings remains to be seen, but this Liverpool side looks like one that is gathering momentum at exactly the right time.