Jurgen Klopp’s Cody Gakpo’s big mistake could be a gift for Arne Slott – Liverpool FC

Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Liverpool was a mixed bag for Cody Gakpo, but those latest snaps in 2023/24 hint at a more consistent role under Arne Slott.

Since arriving at Anfield in January 2023, no player has made more appearances for Liverpool’s first team than Gakpo.

It speaks to the Dutchman’s current value as one of Klopp’s final signings, with the PSV Eindhoven deal delayed until mid-season as he would become “unaffordable” as he progressed further.

But it’s fair to say that, after his first full season, Gakpo has yet to show his best form – nor has he been given the chance.

Big mistake by Klopp

“Cody had a bit of a struggle in the middle of the season, it was more my fault,” admitted Klopp in February, after Gakpo scored his 10th goal of the campaign in a 4-1 win at Brentford.

The manager explained: “We’ve talked about whether Cody can play in midfield for us, yes he can at different times. Is that his position? I would say no.

“The offensive part of the role he can definitely play, but with the defensive things he’s not used to, which at times cost him confidence, you could see it.

“A guy came in here and he was flying from day one pretty much, and then all of a sudden you see, OK, it’s not quite the same now. These things happen.”

Gakpo arrived from PSV Eindhoven as a prolific left winger but was first molded into Roberto Firmino’s role and then, last season, employed as a back-up player.

A few shifts as a No.8 was a mistake, Klopp accepted, and it became clear that rarely playing back-to-back games in the same position was taking its toll on his confidence.

It culminated in a disastrous cameo in the FA Cup defeat to Man United, which involved the 25-year-old squandering a pass to thwart a five-on-two counter.

“Gakpo is playing like it’s in slow motion,” was Jamie Carragher’s immediate verdict.

Yet despite his struggles, Gakpo has continued to contribute regularly in front of goal, scoring against LASK in the Europa League and scoring in four consecutive Carabao Cup matches.

The quality was always there, but it was drowned out by a little player fault.

Released on the left side

There was a clear turning point for Gakpo in the final month of the season, when Klopp changed his role after a heart-to-heart meeting with his number 18 at the AXA training centre.

“Cody, he knows he hasn’t been at his best for a while,” the manager revealed.

“We had a conversation there, obviously not for the public what we talked about there, but it helped him a lot. We could fix it up a bit.”

While Gakpo remained, nominally, Liverpool’s centre-forward, he would instead swap positions with Luis Diaz, the Colombian drifting more into central areas while the Dutchman operated out wide.

Having played 118 of his 159 games, scored 47 of his 55 and laid on 42 of his 50 assists for PSV as a left winger, it was no surprise that this brought an uptick in form.

There were goals and assists in a 4-2 win over Tottenham and another in a 3-3 draw at Aston Villa, while he was dangerous during the last-gasp 2-0 win over Wolves.

“When you’re out to prove something you don’t really have to, you kind of lose the rest of the game,” Klopp told Gakpo during their conversation.

The feeling is that Gakpo, caught between different roles, has lost faith in the areas of the game that made him so feared at PSV.

“If you stop it, you can immediately be yourself again,” added Klopp.

It is unclear why it took Klopp until his final games in charge to embrace Gakpo’s dominance in Eindhoven, but it could be seen as the perfect gift for his successor.

Ready to cut to the side?

With the change of manager, there will also be a change in the fortunes of individual players, and that should be positive for one of the compatriots who is coming.

Slott will be well aware of Gakpo’s talent, having seen him score three goals and assist in three games for the coach’s Feyenoord side during his time at PSV.

Interestingly, he started all three of those games on the left, which should inform Slott of his best position as he prepares for life at Liverpool.

There is, of course, lingering doubt about Slott’s preference for wingers, with Gakpo hardly one, but the reality is that the 45-year-old is unlikely to simply transfer his system from Feyenoord to his new side.

Gakpo’s flexibility will remain a key asset, but there were strong signs in the clashes with Tottenham, Villa and Wolves that he can dominate on the left.

Where that leaves Diaz and Darwin Nunez remains to be seen, but there’s reason to believe Slott’s fellow Dutchman will be prominent.

And after a campaign in which he scored 16 and assisted six in 53 games despite those mid-season struggles, there is a strong platform for Gakpo to build on in 2024/25.

Best moment: A strike against Spurs – something we haven’t seen enough of!

Worst moment: That counter five on two against Man United.

Role next season: A regular starter on the left below the Slot.