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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Tom Cavilla

Michael Owen sends 'important' Cody Gakpo message after first Liverpool goal

Michael Owen believes there were a "lot of positives" for Liverpool to take from the Merseyside derby victory over Everton on Monday night - not least Cody Gakpo's first goal for the club.

And West Ham striker Michail Antonio believes Gakpo's maiden strike can be a 'massive' moment in his Liverpool career.

The Dutch international had failed to score in six outings for the Reds heading into yesterday evening's contest, though got off the mark early by tapping home from close range after being picked out by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Gakpo will now be hoping this finish can kick-start his time on Merseyside as he looks to add to his goalscoring tally in the weeks ahead, and Antonio is of the view the former PSV forward can do just that.

READ MORE: Cody Gakpo may have a new best position as Mohamed Salah proved right

READ MORE: Liverpool just saw £37m transformation that can spark huge change this season

"It's massive," he told Premier League Productions. "Joining the Premier League is difficult, the pace and physicality of it. To come into a team that is struggling and try to pick up and go straight into. Sometimes it can take a couple of years to get into it. Getting his first goal, as a striker, will build that confidence and hopefully he can go on a run now."

Echoing this sentiment, former Liverpool forward Michael Owen added: "To get the new boy, Gakpo, on the scoresheet was important and it's always important for Mo Salah to score. There are loads of positives for Liverpool and something they can really look forward to now."

"Before the game, it felt positive with all the players coming back. Towards the end of the game, a clean sheet is really important as they have been struggling at the back for some time now."

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