Cody Gakpo has been one of the standout performers at Euro 2024 as the Netherlands have reached the quarter-finals stage of the competition. The Dutch forward has found the net three times along the way despite enduring a difficult 2023/24 season with Liverpool.
The ex-PSV Eindhoven attacker is back to playing in his more natural left-wing role for the national side. Ronald Koeman has so far been able to get more productive displays from the 25-year-old than now former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp managed in his final campaign at Anfield.
Arne Slot will take the reigns after his German predecessor’s incredible tenure at the Merseyside-based club came to an end in June 2024. While the 45-year-old will already be familiar with Gakpo’s best attributes from their respective spells in Eredivisie, he can also learn from the issues Klopp had with the forward.
Where Klopp Went Wrong With Gakpo
His use of the Dutchman was often baffling
Eyebrows were initially raised when it was announced that Liverpool had struck a deal to sign the Netherlands ace from PSV in late 2022 as Gakpo had initially looked Manchester United-bound. However, this decision looked to be a masterstroke by the Reds as the player stepped into the team and elevated performances in an unusual centre-forward role.
Klopp had previously relied on Roberto Firmino to knit attacks together from a deeper position. Gakpo’s ability to drop into pockets and create for the two wide players had supporters believing they were witnessing the natural heir to the Brazilian’s throne.
As time went on and Gakpo’s performance levels slipped, Darwin Nunez muscled his way back into the starting striker role. This left Klopp with a headache surrounding where to play his versatile Dutchman. The man who bagged three goals at the 2018 World Cup was a victim of his own adaptability as his manager started to rely on him to play in multiple positions, including central midfield.
His time at Euro 2024 has proven beyond all doubt that Gakpo is best suited to playing on the left flank, as this allows him the chance to drive forward with his powerful runs and cut inside to cause trouble for the opposition.
Cody Gakpo’s Best Position
He has played several roles before
The forward was limited to mainly substitute appearances in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season as he only scored eight goals and registered five assists. These numbers increased slightly in the final weeks of the campaign when Klopp started playing him in his familiar role on the left.
There is evidence to suggest he’s much more competent and effective on the left-hand side of the field compared to through the middle. In his 177 matches as a left-winger, Gakpo has netted 75 times and produced 56 assists. This is an extremely strong record for any winger and suggests Slot should find a way to accommodate him in this role going forward.
While he does still have a solid goalscoring record of 26 in 67 matches as a centre-forward, it’s evident his creativity and involvement lessens in this position. He only has eight assists as a striker which is drastically fewer than from the wide areas.
Cody Gakpo’s Career Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Position | Games | Goals | Assists |
Left-Wing | 177 | 75 | 56 |
Striker | 67 | 26 | 8 |
Right-Wing | 27 | 2 | 4 |
Central Midfield | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Attacking Midfield | 3 | 1 | 0 |
His compatriot has strong competition for a place on the wing, as Liverpool have reportedly been tracking Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon as a potential new addition, while Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are both more than capable of fulfilling this role. The £120,000-per-week Liverpool star’s ability to cut inside and create space before getting a shot on goal sets him apart from any other option Slot will have at his disposal.
Ronald Koeman Gives His Assessment
He is admant about Gakpo’s best position
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has stated that Gakpo has been his team’s ‘most important player’. The former Barcelona manager also claimed his best position is on the wing (per The Athletic):
“For me, his position is on the left, because he is very dangerous if he comes one-on-one against a right full-back. Inside, outside, he’s quick, he’s strong. He can play as a striker, but he has shown today he is more dangerous on the left.”
This backs up the numbers and the results are evident in Gakpo’s impressive run at Euro 2024. He has been the most prolific force in a team containing both Memphis Depay and Xavi Simons. It would be madness for Slot to go against the displays he’s seeing at the biggest international tournament of the summer and revert to Klopp’s tactics of using the player in an unnatural role.
Arne Slot Will Benefit Gakpo
It could be the making of the player at Anfield
Coming into the English club with new ideas and visions, Slot will no doubt tweak the tactical set-up that fans have become familiar with during Klopp’s nine years. He will likely look to build a strong relationship with the Dutch players in the squad; Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch.
Luis Diaz has been linked with a move away from the club and this would boost the former PSV star’s prospects of playing in his favoured position. The Reds will have a better chance of seeing the real Cody Gakpo if the new gaffer decides to keep his momentum running from Euro 2024.
All statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt (Correct as of 03/07/2024)