Late Drama And Long Minutes: How Liverpool’s Travelling Stars Fared This Break

Another international window, another round of results to sift through for signs of what they mean back at Anfield. This time the headline act was Cody Gakpo, who needed until the 91st minute to save the Netherlands from defeat against Germany, but the wider picture from this break was more mixed than one dramatic goal suggests.

Gakpo delivers again when the pressure is on

Gakpo has developed a habit of showing up at the moments that matter, and his equaliser in Amsterdam fit the pattern perfectly. The finish itself, a clean volley taken under pressure with barely a minute of normal time left, was the kind of composed contribution that has become something of a trademark for him on the biggest stages. It secured a 1-1 draw against opponents managed by a familiar face for Liverpool followers, with Jurgen Klopp now in charge of the German national side.

There was extra spice in that reunion given Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch were also on the pitch for the Dutch, both playing the full ninety. Van Dijk will have been frustrated to see a header chalked off for offside earlier in the match, a decision that on another night might have changed the whole complexion of the result. Gravenberch, for his part, put in the sort of quiet, efficient shift in midfield that rarely grabs headlines but tends to catch the eye of anyone watching closely.

Tsimikas adds his name to the late goal theme

Gakpo was not the only Liverpool player finding the big moment deep into stoppage time. Kostas Tsimikas played his part in a 95th minute winner as Greece came from behind to beat Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade, capping a fightback that looked highly unlikely for much of the evening. It is another reminder that the left back’s value to his country goes well beyond the minutes he has managed to get on the pitch for Liverpool this season.

A mixed bag for the rest of the travelling squad

Not every Liverpool player enjoyed a productive break. Lewis Koumas started for Wales but could not prevent a 1-0 defeat away to Portugal, while Ronald Araujo was on the losing side too, playing close to seventy minutes as Uruguay went down 3-1 in a friendly against Japan. Neither result will cause much concern at Anfield, but they are worth noting all the same, particularly with both players hoping to force their way into first team contention over the coming months.

There was a more encouraging note at youth level, where Erik Farkas featured as England’s Under-18s beat Colombia 3-2. Development squad players rarely make the news during senior international breaks, so any positive contribution is worth flagging for those keeping tabs on the club’s younger prospects.

What Liverpool should take from the break

Strip away the individual results and the takeaway for Liverpool is fairly simple. Gakpo showed once again that he can be relied upon in moments that count, Tsimikas proved his worth away from Anfield, and the majority of the squad’s other travellers returned from heavy international minutes without picking up fresh knocks. In a season already packed with fixtures, that last point might end up mattering just as much as any of the goals.