Gakpo woes blamed on "struggling" Liverpool after Klopp changed Reds role
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman believes the form of Cody Gakpo was negatively impacted by his transfer to Liverpool earlier this year.
The Reds began their January transfer window by completing the signing of Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch international had been in the process of negotiating a potential deal with Premier League rivals Manchester United ahead of his move to Anfield.
Gakpo joined a Reds squad who were struggling for form and while they enjoyed a strong finish to the campaign, it was a trophyless finish for Klopp’s side who also missed out on a top four place in the Premier League.
The Dutchman has enjoyed prominence in Liverpool’s starting line-up since but he has seen his role change. The return from long-term injuries of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota has adjusted Klopp’s selection process, with Gakpo dropping back into a midfield three role this campaign.
Gakpo, 24, is a regular forward at international level for the Netherlands – for whom he scored from the penalty spot in the midweek win over the Republic of Ireland – but coach Koeman believes his move to Anfield was partly responsible for his turbulent form and not finding positional continuity this year.
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"You have to understand that Gakpo is still a young player," Koeman explained at his press conference ahead of that clash in Dublin. "When he first went to Liverpool, the team was struggling and that made it difficult for him to make a quick impact.
Have Your Say! What position should Gakpo play in for Liverpool ? Tell us what you think here.
Gakpo has embraced playing as a false nine under Klopp at Liverpool"If you join a team that is doing well, then you have a chance to come in when the moment is right, but Liverpool needed something quickly and that was tough. You have to give him that time to develop and to adapt to the Premier League because it's a different level.
"I know from my time in England that the intensity is much higher than he used to play in Holland but he's young and he will learn and he will be better, but he has a great future. You can see his quality."
When Gakpo was asked in an interview with The Mail over his preferred position, the Dutchman said: "Just to play! There are differences and you have to change some things, go deeper and defend more. You get the ball from the central defenders when in midfield… as a striker you can't drop that far.
"It’s difficult (to pick my best position), it depends on the game or opponent. I just like to be in a position to get on the ball a lot. I like to carry from the midfield to the attack. I just want to get a lot of goals and assists!"
Klopp has already waxed lyrical about Gakpo's ability to adapt to a new position so quickly. The German said previously: "He is a super footballer and a smart person. I never for second thought that he was only 24, but he is really young. He was captain at his previous club (PSV), which is special.
"And then you meet the boy and you think: ‘Ah OK, now I understand why.’ He eats football, each information we give him is so natural for him to put it on the pitch. He is in a position he has never played before but he enjoys it a lot. We need him there and he is very cool that he can play three or four positions but he has adapted pretty quickly."
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