Luis Diaz the popular choice but is Cody Gakpo now Liverpool’s next-best attacking option?

LIVERPOOL have provided plenty of Dream Team points so far this season but managers have been made to work for them at times.

Mohamed Salah (£8.1m) is the outright top performer by a wide margin having passed the 300-point mark with his 21st goal of the campaign on Sunday.

While Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m) and Virgil van Dijk (£5.2m) are leading the way among defenders with 168 and 150 points respectively.

But given the Reds are top of both the Premier League and Champions League tables, one would expect more easily identifiable Dream Team success stories among Arne Slot’s squad.

Luis Diaz (£4.3m) boasts a healthy tally of 162 points but even he’s blown hot and cold.

In fact, gaffers have been incredibly indecisive when it comes to the Colombia international.

The 27 year-old winger has been among the five most transferred-out players five times since Gameweek 8 but he’s also been among the five most recruited players the same number of times.

Dream Team bosses playing hokey-cokey with Diaz has been a consistent theme this season.

Elsewhere in midfield, Alexis Mac Allister (£4.1m), Ryan Gravenberch (£3.8m), Curtis Jones (£3.6m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.8m) have had their moments but all average between 4.3 and 4.9 points-per-game, which is respectable but nothing more.

Diogo Jota (£4.4m) started the season in fine form but an injury derailed his progress; a familiar story for the unfortunate Portuguese forward in recent years.

But perhaps Cody Gakpo (£4.8m) has what it takes to be a long-term option for gaffers who want another Liverpool threat to accompany Salah?

At the time of writing, only the Egyptian superstar has earned more points than the Dutchman from his last three outings among all forwards.

Gakpo’s emphatic strike against Manchester United was his third goal in as many games, a fruitful run that has yielded 32 points.

Widening the lens, the 25-year-old has racked up 80 points from 11 appearances since the November international break, a spell that has featured six goals and two assists.

Gakpo is categorised as a forward in Dream Team but has generally been deployed as a left winger this term, a role he fulfilled for Netherlands with great effect at Euro 2024.

His minutes may concern some gaffers as Slot continues to shuffle his attacking talents, with Salah being the obvious exception.

Ultimately though, points are what matters most and Gakpo has provided more than his fair share of late.

He’s locked in a fascinating battle with several others in a race to be the third forward to reach the 200-point mark after Salah and Erling Haaland (£7.8m).

MOST POINTS AMONG DREAM TEAM FORWARDS THIS SEASON:

• Mohamed Salah – 305 pts
• Erling Haaland – 237 pts
• Dominic Solanke – 179 pts
• Alexander Isak – 176 pts
• Cody Gakpo – 174 pts
• Matheus Cunha – 166 pts
• Amad Diallo – 160 pts
• Kai Havertz – 155 pts

A quick look at the schedule suggests it might be wise to stock up on Liverpool assets.

The league leaders are one of just three teams with EIGHT fixtures to fulfil across the next four Gameweeks.