January signing Cody Gakpo has discussed his first few weeks as a Liverpool player following his arrival from PSV Eindhoven
Cody Gakpo admits his Liverpool acclimatisation is being made more difficult by the dismal form of Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Gakpo has experienced victory just once following his arrival from PSV Eindhoven last month for what could ultimately be a £44million fee.
The forward has yet to contribute either a goal or an assist in six starts, the slowest impact made by a big-money Reds forward signing during the Klopp era.
But the Holland international is determined to start making his mark and revealed he is in regular dialogue with the Liverpool manager.
“It’s always different when you come into a team that was maybe first and winning every game, but it’s now in a little bit of a difficult situation,” said Gakpo.
“So for me it is to come in and show what I can. If we were in first I have to do that and now we are in another place I have to do that also. I just try to show my best side.
“The coach gave me a really warm welcome and I really appreciated it. We had a good conversation and now he is helping me to adapt as fast as possible in the team and to his style of playing. To do that I need to keep working hard and improving.”
Gakpo, who will be aiming to keep his place for the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield on Monday, has been employed both down the centre of the attack and, as at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, on the left flank during the formative stages of his Reds career.
And the 23-year-old has no doubt over where he is best suited at the moment. “I am somebody with a direct style of playing, a hard worker and a winner,” he said. “I’m an attacking player who can dribble, score and make assists. It’s a good asset to have that I can play in multiple positions, but in the end I think every player has one position that he likes the most and maybe that is where the player is at his best.
“At the moment for me, I like to play on the left wing because I played there for four years so that is what I am used to, but maybe I will develop better in another position and then play there.
“I played in the middle in the FA Cup at Wolves and against Chelsea. I like it. It’s more in the centre of the goal. I’m not that used to it so I have to develop in that position. I don’t know if I will end up there, but (former Holland national team manager) Louis van Gaal told me I will end up in the middle so maybe I will.”
Gakpo added to Walk On emagazine: “I had another style of playing back in Holland so in terms of putting pressure and running back I’m learning about that. I’m learning a lot and I’m eager to learn even more, so I’m really enjoying it. Everybody has a lot of quality here and we have a really great squad. I want to play with and against the best players because this is only good for my game, to improve as a player.”
SOURCE: iverpoolecho.co.uk
