Under Arne Slot’s guidance, Cody Gakpo is enjoying his best goalscoring season to date at Liverpool.
Gakpo arrived at Anfield at the beginning of 2023 during Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate campaign at Liverpool.
Then in his first full season at the club in 2023/24, Gakpo netted 16 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions under Klopp.
And whilst the Dutchman certainly had some highs, he went through periods of being criticised too — Klopp wasn’t always getting the best of Gakpo.
However, with 17 goals in 45 games this season, Slot appears to have unlocked his compatriot, who is now taking a lot more responsibility at Anfield.
Gakpo scored and played 68 minutes in Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and he’s become an important starter for the Reds.
Cody Gakpo makes Jurgen Klopp admission after Liverpool’s title win
That being said, Gakpo spoke to Sky Sports shortly after it had been confirmed that Liverpool had won the title on Sunday.
And when doing so, the 25-year-old made an interesting admission about how much more ‘confidence’ he feels under Slot in comparison to last season under Klopp.
READ MORE: Gary Lineker says £35m Liverpool player has been Arne Slot’s ‘unsung hero’ this season
Gakpo referenced how often Klopp would change his position, and the left-winger was seemingly very grateful that Slot was predominantly playing him out wide.
He said: “It sounds cliched but I’m playing in my natural position now, which brings more confidence.
“The way we play gets me into positions – I’m confident to take on my man or go inside or outside.
“Last year it was very difficult for me to get some real form because I played in so many different positions and couldn’t really adapt to one.”
Gakpo is no longer being called ‘overrated’
Interestingly, in the same interview Gakpo also claimed that Slot had brought Liverpool to a new level tactically — it seems fair to conclude that he had some frustrations under Klopp.
It wasn’t so long ago that Gakpo was labelled as ‘very overrated’ in a Liverpool shirt, a forward who struggled to show any kind of consistency.
But that was seemingly down to the forward’s positioning somewhat.
Without criticising Klopp — one of the best managers in Premier League history, it seems as if Slot did arrive at Anfield with new ideas at the right time.
That being said, Ange Postecoglou gave his honest thoughts on Liverpool as a team after facing them under Slot’s guidance four times this season.
Tottenham Hotspur have been unable to compete with Liverpool, a familiar tale for most English of late.
