Cody Gakpo has said it is an honor to match Mohamed Salah’s record of netting in 10 consecutive Anfield starts.
It’s a remarkable feat Gakpo achieved on Sunday when he scored the opener in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal. It brings him to double figures in terms of finding the back of the net from Anfield starts, a run that stretches back to November.
Gakpo’s strike in the 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion began this sequence, which includes goals across three different competitions. There was also a nearly three-month pause in the run of scoring starts due to an injury sustained in February.
It meant the eighth and ninth matches in the sequence (both against Tottenham Hotspur) occurred on 6 February and 27 April. Gakpo’s header against Arsenal equalled the record set between December 2017 to April 2018, when he also scored in 10 consecutive Anfield games.
Told about the landmark goal after the Arsenal game, Gakpo responded: “Only two? So it’s me and Mo? That’s amazing to get a record like that. So maybe if I score in the last game of the season… I have to start, so hopefully I start.
“That’s an honour obviously to get that record – especially besides Mo, who has so many records. Amazing,” he told LFCTV.
(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
Gakpo could break the record should he start and score against Crystal Palace on the final weekend of the Premier League season.
While the Dutchman was pleased to equal Salah’s record, he was frustrated the Reds dropped points for the second league game in a row. Gakpo’s header had given Liverpool the lead, which was extended by Luis Diaz just 87 seconds later.
But Arsenal responded after the break, netting twice via Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to come away with a point.
(Image: AP)
“We played very well in moments, got 2-0 up – you should win the game,” said Gakpo. “Obviously, you know Arsenal is a strong side with a lot of qualities as well. But we as a team when we are 2-0 up, we shouldn’t give that away.
“I don’t really want to say [it was] a different Arsenal, I think it was a different us. I think we were not that sharp anymore, maybe not that focused anymore as we were in the first half, a little bit sloppy on the ball as well.
“They are a strong side, so when you drop maybe one or two percent, then they have the quality to take advantage of that – and that’s what they did. But I think it was because of us dropping in energy level or something.
“I think after they scored twice, we got back up again and we created some good opportunities. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a winner.”
