Last season, Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo at times appeared a player without a position, with manager Jürgen Klopp trying out the Dutch attacker as an eight in midfield and as a central striker to rather mixed reviews.
At the international level, though, Gakpo typically plays on the left wing and has said that’s the role he favours. And new Liverpool manager Arne Slot has told him that’s the role he’s going to be filling in the squad this season.
“I spoke to him and obviously he sees me as a left winger,” Gakpo said ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Ipswich. “That’s how I think he sees me [but] we have a lot of players in the front line and the season is long.
“There can be injuries in every position so he said, ‘You’re playing there but maybe I need you in another position. Just be ready.’ For me, I’m here and I try to play the best football I can and help the club as much as I can.”
There can be injuries in every position, but also left wing is for the time being arguably the deepest in the squad, with Gakpo and Luis Diaz battling for minutes but also Darwin Nuñez and Diogo Jota capable of playing there.
Wherever Gakpo lines up most this season, though, he says the goal is to win every game they can—starting with three points on the weekend to take any of the pressure of kicking off a new year under a new manager off.
“It’s very important to just take a little bit of the pressure off when you get the three points,” Gakpo added. “Hopefully we play a very good game, get the three points, and everybody in the club feels good for the season.”
