Gakpo’s Journey at Liverpool: From Struggles to Potential Success under Slot
Cody Gakpo’s time at Liverpool has been a rollercoaster ride since his arrival in January 2023. As one of Jurgen Klopp’s final signings, Gakpo immediately proved his value by making more appearances for the first team than any other player. However, his first full season with the club was marked by inconsistency and a lack of opportunity to showcase his best form.
Klopp himself admitted that he made a mistake by experimenting with Gakpo’s position, trying to mold him into a Roberto Firmino-type player and then deploying him as a utility player. This led to a loss of confidence for Gakpo, who struggled to adapt to the defensive responsibilities of playing in midfield. His confidence hit rock bottom during a disastrous cameo in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
Despite these setbacks, Gakpo continued to contribute regularly in front of goal. He scored a brace against LASK in the Europa League and found the net in four consecutive Carabao Cup fixtures. It was clear that the quality was there, but it was stifled due to his positional uncertainty.
However, there was a turning point for Gakpo towards the end of the season. Klopp had a heart-to-heart conversation with him, which helped rejuvenate his confidence. The manager decided to tweak Gakpo’s role, allowing him to operate on the left-wing while Luis Diaz moved more centrally. This change brought about an upturn in form for Gakpo, who scored goals and provided assists in crucial matches against Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Klopp acknowledged that Gakpo had lost belief in the areas of his game that made him so feared at PSV Eindhoven. By encouraging him to focus on what he does best, Klopp allowed Gakpo to regain his identity as a player.
With Klopp’s departure and the arrival of Arne Slot as the new head coach, Gakpo’s fortunes are likely to change for the better. Slot is familiar with Gakpo’s talents, having seen him excel against his former team, Feyenoord. Gakpo’s best position seems to be on the left-wing, and Slot should take this into account when forming his new team.
While Slot is known for favoring pacy wingers, Gakpo’s versatility will remain a key asset. However, recent performances against top teams indicate that Gakpo can dominate from the left-wing position. This might leave players like Diaz and Nunez unsure of their roles, but there is reason to believe that Gakpo will feature prominently under Slot.
Despite the struggles he faced in his first full season, Gakpo managed to score 16 goals and provide six assists in 53 games. This strong platform sets the stage for Gakpo to build on his performance in the upcoming 2024/25 season.
In conclusion, Gakpo’s journey at Liverpool has been a mix of struggles and potential. Klopp’s experimentation with his position and lack of consistency affected his confidence. However, a change in role towards the end of the season revitalized Gakpo, and with the arrival of Arne Slot, there is hope that he will flourish as a regular starter from the left-wing.