Gakpo and Isak are giving Liverpool a pass worth preparing for

Cody Gakpo supplied both Alexander Isak goals in Liverpool’s win at Ipswich, having also created his goal against Nottingham Forest. The club’s account of their developing partnership gives Liverpool a concrete attacking connection to build on. Our view is that its value lies in the relationship between the passer’s body position and the striker’s movement—not simply the number of assists.

A forward pass begins before it leaves the foot

A striker can attack the space behind a defender much more decisively when the player on the ball is able to look forward. The pass then becomes a genuine threat rather than a hopeful release. The defender must decide whether to step towards the passer or protect depth, and even a brief hesitation can make the runner’s next movement valuable.

That is the tactical opportunity we see in this partnership. Gakpo should not be judged only by how often he dribbles past someone. Receiving in a position from which he can threaten the space behind the line gives him another way to change the attack. Isak, in turn, does not have to ask for every pass to feet. His movement can make the surrounding possession more purposeful.

The next improvement is a third option

Successful combinations attract attention. An opponent can defend deeper, crowd the passing lane, or send an extra player towards Gakpo. Liverpool’s response should not be to force the same ball more often. The useful development would be a third player becoming available when the direct route closes.

Imagine the defender follows the striker’s run. That can leave a receiving pocket in front of the defence. If a midfielder occupies it at the right moment, the original partnership has created an advantage even without either player completing the decisive action. If the defender instead stays high, the pass behind remains available. The attack asks a question with two plausible answers.

Keep the claim proportionate

A short run of combinations is evidence of promise, not proof of a complete attacking system. We would want to see the relationship survive different defensive heights and periods when Liverpool are forced to circulate the ball more slowly. Repetition matters most when the opposition knows what might happen and still cannot settle on a comfortable response.

For now, the encouraging point is that Liverpool have a connection with a clear footballing logic. The next stage is to make that connection one part of a varied attack, rather than the solution every possession is asked to find.