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Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both played the full 90 minutes for the Netherlands on Sunday in a tricky fixture for the Dutch — a narrow victory over Lithuania.
Two goals up and cruising, the Netherlands let slip that 2-0 lead before half-time. Memphis Depay was then needed to edge his side in front again in the second half when he became his country's highest-ever goalscorer, overtaking Robin van Persie.
And Van Dijk and Gakpo received contrasting verdicts from the Dutch media following the game. Gakpo played well, setting up the opening goal and hitting the crossbar in the second half, but Van Dijk was criticized slightly.
National paper De Telegraaf was quick to praise Gakpo, giving the Liverpool winger a rating of 7/10 and labeling him "once again the best player" despite Depay netting a brace.
Gakpo was described as being "the solution" for the Netherlands, even if Lithuania was doubling up on him. The Liverpool ace was a valuable attacker in keeping possession and dragging his team up the pitch.
Van Dijk was awarded a 6.5/10 rating. The 34-year-old "didn't do anything spectacular" and was "lucky" that an error did not lead to a goal, with other Dutch outlets in agreement.
Algemeen Dagblad gave the captain a rating of just 5/10, saying how he was almost the reason they let a two-goal lead slip away.
And Football Oranje said he "struggled" quite a lot throughout the game and that it was "not his finest evening".
The latter said Gakpo was the "biggest threat" for his side. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, was an unused substitute, which is no bad thing for Liverpool as he will be better rested.
The Netherlands are now top of their qualifying group, level on points with Poland but having played a game less. In October, they will play Malta and Finland, by which time Jeremie Frimpong should be fit again and able to be involved.
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Elsewhere, Germany beat Conor Bradley's Northern Ireland with Florian Wirtz netting a sensational free-kick. Giorgi Mamardashvili also kept a clean sheet for Georgia as it beat Bulgaria.
Liverpool.com says: Gakpo has had a good start to the season and he is a really strong runner with the ball. He tends to make an impact in the final third too.
Van Dijk, meanwhile, has been excellent for Liverpool in the early parts of the season. He always draws criticism from the Dutch media and pundits, no matter how he plays for his country, and so Arne Slot will be far from concerned.
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