Cody Gakpo has revealed what position Arne Slot intends to field him in for Liverpool this season. The Dutchman has primarily been used as a centre-forward since joining the Reds from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023.
However, he made his name with the Eredivisie club as a left-winger, and shone for the Netherlands during Euro 2024 in his favoured role.
The 25-year-old has admitted in the past that he had been played out of position by Jurgen Klopp since moving to Anfield, and that he actually prefers playing on the flanks despite being signed as a long-term successor for Roberto Firmino as the club’s false nine.
“I have always been a left winger so that’s always been my preference,” he said ahead of facing England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. “But in the last one and a half years, the coach needed me to play somewhere else and that’s what I tried to do at my best.”
Gakpo was one of the star performers at the European Championships in Germany as he ended up as a joint-winner of the Golden Boot with three goals. Such performances prompted talk regarding his long-term position back at Liverpool, with new head coach Arne Slot confirming he planned to hold talks with the forward regarding his role following the tournament.
“I don’t have an opinion about what their best positions would be with their countries,” the Dutchman said of both his compatriot and Trent Alexander-Arnold at his own Reds unveiling at the start of July. “Because that always depends on the players you have as well.
“You cannot judge a player on his own, it’s always a team effort. But I do have my opinion about where they’re going to play here.
“But if you don’t mind, I’m going to talk to them about that first and work with them first before telling it here.”
Such talks have now taken place following Gakpo’s return for pre-season training at the start of the month. And after starting on the left-wing in Liverpool’s final friendly against Las Palmas last Sunday, the Dutchman has confirmed that Slot intends to play him outwide.
“We have a lot of players in the front line and you know the season is long and there can be some injuries in every position. So he said, ‘You’re playing there but maybe I need you in another position, you can play there as well. 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 with my qualities.
“I think he (Slot) is coming in with a new style of play – more based on ball possession. I think it’s good for the team. Obviously we learned a lot from the previous gaffer as well.
“I think if you can combine both those qualities they had and tried to give us, we can be an exciting team to watch.”
With his role at Liverpool now clarified, Gakpo is looking to replicate his performances for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 for the Reds.
“I’m feeling good, to be honest. I feel good after the summer break,” he told club media. “I’m really happy to get back to work.
“Every first day of the season is like the first day of school! It’s always a very exciting time. We want to start the season very well, obviously, we want to win.
“I’m very confident. It was a good Euros for me, unfortunately we lost to England. It was a good one for us as a country as well, even though we could do better maybe.
“I’m very happy to be back, full of confidence and I need to keep performing like that here as well.”
