Jurgen Klopp says 24-year-old Liverpool player can play in four different positions, he’s so smart

Add as preferred source on Google

Jurgen Klopp has hailed the intelligence of Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, as he continues to adapt at Anfield.

Gakpo has slowly become one of Liverpool’s most important players since his arrival from PSV Eindhoven in January. Playing from the left of the attack, through the centre or even in midfield, the 24-year-old has shown an impressive range in the last five months.

And speaking in his post-Leicester press conference yesterday, Klopp praised how quickly Gakpo has taken his ideas on board.

“He’s a super, football-smart person,” said the Liverpool manager. “Not for one second I feel that he’s 24 – he’s really young. He was captain at his previous club, which is all special. Then you meet the boy and you think, ‘Ah OK, now I understand it.’ He eats football.

“So like each information we give him is, for him, natural to put it on the pitch – in a position he never played before, I think, but he enjoys it a lot there and we need him there. It’s very cool. He can play obviously three, four positions in this system, which is super-helpful. But you are right, he adapted pretty quick.”

Gakpo shows his smarts

Gakpo was once again a key man in another positive performance for Liverpool last night. He may not have got any of the three goals against Leicester, but the Dutchman was involved in plenty more besides.

He really is just such a smart player. A smart young man. You can see it in the way that he plays. Every touch Gakpo takes is designed to do something. He doesn’t often waste the ball or a run.

Having come through an initial tough period at Anfield, it’s so exciting to see where he can go from here.

In reality, Liverpool had possibly expected to move for him in the coming summer transfer window. After he became available in January though, it was too good-a chance for the Reds to turn down. As a result, Gakpo is already ahead of schedule.

Now with a full half-season behind him and set to embark on his first pre-season very soon, he already feels like a proper Liverpool player. That will surely benefit both player and club as they look to hit much bigger heights in the next campaign.

There’s so much to enjoy and look forward about this Liverpool team right now. And Gakpo is at the forefront of that. Once he settles into a defined position, you get the feeling that he’s going to be unstoppable.