Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, who has Togolese heritage through his father, has expressed satisfaction with manager Arne Slot’s decision to utilize him in his preferred position on the left wing.
Gakpo, who has contributed 8 goals and 3 assists in 26 Premier League appearances this season, discussed his early conversations with Slot regarding his role in the team.
“I was wondering what he thought, because I knew also that I can do a lot better than I did before if I play in my right position
“Obviously he knew me already from the Netherlands, and I’d just come back from the Euros which were good for me.
“He just said ‘you have to focus on the left wing, I’m not going tell you that you’re going play all the games because we have Lucho (Luis Diaz) and other players who can come in and play who are really good, but if you come in or if you play, this is most likely the position you will play’.
“So there was already for me a kind of a relief that I can develop there and become the player I always imagine I can be. So I’m working towards that point now and hopefully I can get better than I am today and help the team more as much as I can.”
Under Slot’s management, Liverpool has shifted to a more possession-based style, while maintaining defensive intensity.
Gakpo noted that these tactical adjustments have been beneficial for his performance, allowing him to leverage his strengths from the left wing—a position he has played throughout his senior career, except for the last two years.
Gakpo’s performance this season has been impressive. According to FootyStats, he has taken 35 shots in 26 Premier League matches, with a shooting accuracy of 48.57%.
He also averages 1.91 key passes per game, highlighting his role in creating scoring opportunities.
