After Alexander Isak impressed for Sweden with a man-of-the-match performance in their opening game of the World Cup against Tunisia, Liverpool supporters were left wanting more.So, eyes turned to Sweden’s second match of the tournament, against the Netherlands, where the striker would be up against his club captain Virgil van Dijk.But it is what happened at the opposite end of the pitch that stole the attention, as Cody Gakpo served up a reminder of the asset he can be to a forward line. After being kept quiet against Japan in the opening game of this World Cup, the Dutch forward came alive to score twice and provide an assist in the 5-1 win over Sweden.Gakpo, along with a number of his club team-mates, had a season to forget with Liverpool last season. After 18 goals and seven assists in 49 appearances across all competitions during the 2024-25 title-winning campaign, the 27-year-old’s output dropped to nine goals and six assists in 52 matches as Liverpool finished fifth.Many fans grew tired of Gakpo’s predictability, and as the season progressed it became a running (bad) joke that every time he got the ball wide on the left he would always cut inside.It is a key part of his skill set and, when he does it at the right moment, it can be extremely effective. But too often last season there was a lack of awareness of what was on his outside (usually an overlapping Milos Kerkez), and he would force things, too, even when the opposition was doubling up on him.Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring his team’s third goal against Sweden (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)It sums up the mood around Gakpo following last season that there is speculation around his future. But with Mohamed Salah departing, Federico Chiesa expected to leave and Hugo Ekitike recovering from a ruptured Achilles that is likely to rule him out until 2027, further attacking depth is needed, rather than allowing an attacker to leave.The club have completed the signing of versatile attacker Victor Munoz from Osasuna to bolster their forward options, and continue to pursue a deal for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande.This is not about drawing major conclusions from one game against a Sweden side who were fortunate to qualify for the tournament and offered minimal resistance defensively. Even so, new head coach Andoni Iraola will be hoping this is the version of Gakpo he will be working with next season.Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.Tournament football for his country is where Gakpo comes alive. In the 2022 World Cup — two months before he sealed his move from PSV to Liverpool — he scored three goals. He netted the same total, plus one assist, at the 2024 European Championship, setting the tone for the season to come for Liverpool.Gakpo’s first real involvement against Sweden was an important one. After Brian Brobbey had laid the ball off to Tijjani Reijnders, the latter released Gakpo down the left channel. It left the winger one-on-one with his full-back and after he drove into the box, instead of cutting back inside he delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the path of Brobbey.It was a boost for Gakpo, who too often last season was getting on the ball when the opposition defence was set and in a low block because of the lack of direct play.The injection of confidence was notable. He was a constant outlet, and there was a clarity and unpredictability to his play every time he got the ball, even if what he tried wasn’t always successful.His two goals, though, were both trademark Gakpo finishes. The first saw him arrive at the back post for a simple tap-in from a ball played low across the face of goal. Denzel Dumfries was the provider.One of the defining combinations of Liverpool’s title-winning season under Arne Slot was Salah supplying crosses for Gakpo at the back post. That link-up was rarely seen last season, and reviving the winger-to-winger connection should be high on Iraola’s list as he tries to rejuvenate the attack.The second saw him execute the exact set of movements you would have described if you had been asked what a typical Gakpo goal looked like.He picked the ball up on the left, cut inside, skipped past the challenge of Gustaf Lagerbielke and fired a shot past Kristoffer Nordfeldt without hesitation.Due to injuries to Isak and Ekitike, Gakpo ended the season playing as Liverpool’s No 9 but it remains clear that his best position is on the left wing. He will face stiffer competition for his place in the team than he did last season, with 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha a year older and left wing being Munoz’s preferred side. That should be a benefit, as it was when he was competing with Luis Diaz under Slot.If whoever is playing wide is linking up with the World Cup version of Isak, their job will be easier, too. Sweden may have suffered a comprehensive defeat, but the 26-year-old is continuing to improve after missing most of last season through injury.While there’s no doubt he wants to be the finisher, Isak took on the role of the facilitator after the first-half hydration break. Before that, he and Viktor Gyokeres had cut isolated figures up front.He threatened to add to his two assists from the opening game on three occasions in relatively quick succession with his progressive passing feeding Gyokeres…twice…… and then Yasin Ayari…It was another insight into how Isak can be used in open play and illustrated he is more than capable of dropping into pockets of space and providing the decisive pass to those running beyond him.His link-up with Gyokeres and Ayari also showed the importance of having players around Isak. That does not mean Liverpool have to switch to a two-striker system — although that was set to be a part of the plan on occasion when Isak, Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were signed last summer — but it reinforces how crucial having a cohesive attacking unit is.Isak was eventually rewarded when he sent Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga through to score a consolation goal just before the hour mark.There are no guarantees, but if Iraola inherits Gakpo and Isak on this form, and continues to add quality and depth to the squad, Liverpool’s attacking outlook for the upcoming campaign will look much healthier than it did merely a month ago.