Jurgen Klopp says Cody Gakpo has done ‘exceptionally well’ since joining Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed attacker Cody Gakpo has done ‘exceptionally well’ since arriving at Anfield in January.

Speaking in his post-match press conference after the win over Nottingham Forest yesterday, the German lauded the 23-year-old’s transition into Roberto Firmino’s role in the team.

“If you watched international football over the last five, six years as a footballer and you love football, and if you are in a similar role, have a similar job to do in the game and you didn’t pick up anything from Bobby Firmino, that would be a bad decision, to be honest,” said Klopp.

“We play in public, so you can watch all the games. I think Bobby in this role is an inspiration for pretty much every player in a similar position, so that’s clear.

“Cody is 23 years old, he was captain of his former club – I had no clue how that happens that early and then when he arrived here you realise, ‘Ah OK, he’s a super-smart kid, really open and a real team player’ and stuff like this. On top of that, a really good footballer.

“He can play this position, can play wide, can play the centre. The real nine, a bit higher up, he can play that as well; double striker, can play that as well. So, he can create his own way there on the position, so it’s not like we have to do it exactly [the same] because nobody can do it like Bobby, because nobody is Bobby.

“That means you have to find your own way and I think that’s much more important. That’s where Cody is up to. I thought Cody, since he’s here, did exceptionally well.

“We didn’t do that well – that for a new player is super-difficult. It’s super-difficult to come into the team and it’s not clicking. He did really well in that period. And now when we do better then obviously people maybe realise his performances, and that’s it. But from the first day since he’s here, he’s a real joy to work with.”

Klopp full of praise for Gakpo

Since making the £37m move to Anfield, Gakpo has gone from strength to strength.

Although Klopp has numerous quality options in attack at his disposal, the Dutchman has secured his place in the manager’s starting XI.

In 14 Premier League matches, the youngster has bagged five goals and one assist, having also held the front-line together with his clever positioning.

He has been statistically rated as the Reds’s fourth-best player in the league this term, having led the attack for aerial duels won.

Looking ahead to next season, it will be interesting to see if Gakpo continues to play down the middle.

The Netherlands international has played the vast majority of his career on the left, so perhaps we could see a switch with Darwin Nunez later down the line.