12 June 2023 , 06:38
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Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has admitted he is enjoying his new role as a central striker and believes it is a position he could flourish in.
Gakpo, 24, joined the Reds from PSV in January in a move worth £45million and he has since scored seven times and provided three assists in 20 Premier League appearances. The Dutchman ended his season on 20 goals in all competitions after impressing for PSV in the Eredivisie during the first half of the campaign.
After a slow start, Gakpo has managed to get used to Jurgen Klopp's high pressing, attacking style of football but has quickly transitioned from a winger into a no.9. Many thought Gakpo was brought in to fill the hole left by Luis Diaz and even Diogo Jota - who were both injured long-term at the time.
But Gakpo, who was speaking ahead of Netherlands' clash against Croatia in the Nations League semi-finals, has mainly played up front during his time at the Reds. "Now that I’m playing at Liverpool I think it’s a nice position," Gakpo said, as quoted by ESPN. "I have become convinced that being a striker suits me.
"Guus Hiddink was the first (to play him down the middle). He spent a while at PSV as a sounding board, saw me play and said: 'You have to become a striker or a false No. 9'. I didn't want to believe it then. And then when Roger Schmidt said the same thing later at PSV when he was coach, I was even more stubborn. It felt good on the left flank.
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"But at the last World Cup I was already more central on the field and at Liverpool permanently in the past six months. It's been good. I'm excited now to get better in the position in the near future, for the club as well as the national team."
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has thrived in a more central role (Getty Images)"It was a difficult period when I first arrived," Gakpo added. "He said what he wanted from me. In the beginning, of course, it took some getting used to, but I've enjoyed playing in that position in recent months."
As for Liverpool, the Reds narrowly missed out on a Champions League place after finishing fifth in the Premier League in 2022/23 - behind Manchester United and Newcastle. Klopp's men ended the season with a dramatic 4-4 draw at Southampton but the German was hopeful about their future plans.
"There were moments during this season where you thought [the struggle] would be four years long," said Klopp. "Imagine if we were our normal self [earlier in the season], which we absolutely will be next season and we will be a contender again. The last 11 games helped us to realise that again."