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Arne Slot says he’s changed one Jurgen Klopp tactic and that has helped Cody Gakpo explode at Liverpool

Shamanth Jayaram

Fri 27 December 2024 6:45, UK

Cody Gakpo is having a fantastic season under Arne Slot at Liverpool.

The Dutch international was always a magnificent player, but he had only shown flashes of his brilliance under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Under Slot, Gakpo has been a lot more consistent, and the 25-year-old found the net for the 10th timಞe this season against Leicester City on Boxing Day.

Liverpool fans are loving Gakpo’s performances, and Slot des🌠erves a lot of credit for bringing the best out of his compatriot.

Arne Slot explains the tactical change that’s helping Cody Gakpo at Liverpool

Klop꧑p’s a💦ttacking system was a joy to watch during his time at Liverpool.

The Reds attackers were devastating under the German and almost always troubled the oppositi🔴on with their direct style of attack.

The wingers would usually cut inside and have a dir𝄹ect impact – Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah reaped the rewards of that system.

Slot does things slightly differen♏tly. When asked about Gakpo’s great form, he explained that unlike under 𝕴Klopp, he wants his wingers to stay out wide a bit more.

That has helped Gakpo find himself 🌞in one-on-one situations more often, and that has made him a much bigger goal threat than he was under Klopp.

Talking about the secret behind Gakpo hitting double figures, Slot said, as per : “I think the main difference maybe is that the set-up of the front ♉three was a bit different [in the past] than the set-up now.

“We expect a bit from our wingers to keep it wide, to try to get them in one-v-o♈ne situations. Cody has done this really well. Lucho has done this really well when he played from the left but Lucho is, in our opinion, also capable of playing as a nine; he did that really well against Spurs.

“Against Spurs, it was mainly maybe Lucho and Mo that were dominant, now it was Cody again, together with Mo. It’s just nice ✨to have so many options, in every position actually but also in the front three.”

Gakpo’s stats compared under Slot and Klopp

꧙Mane was definitely the best left-winger Liverpool had during Klopp’s ti⛄me at the club, but Gakpo wasn’t too bad either.

The Dutchman played up front as 🐬well under the German and he produced a few great moments. However, he wasn’t a🤪s consistent as he has been under Slot this season.

As the table shows above, Gakpo has improved so much under Slot and is considerably morꦆe efficient. The reason behind this is defi😼nitely the system.

Asking the 25-year-old to stay out wide whil🏅e the full-back underlaps increases the number of one-on-one opportunities he gets every game. That is where he is most effective.

Gakpo is now on track to score over 20 gওoals for Liverpool this campaign. That would make this his best season since joining the club.