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Gary Neville has spotted one big improvement Cody Gakpo has made at Liverpool under Arne Slot

Lucas Arnold

Sun 1 December 2024 17:55, UK

It’s hard to deny that Cody Gakpo has been one of the biggest success stories at Liverpool since Arne Slot took over from Jurgen Klopp.

Gakpo, who joined Liverpool right at the end of 2022, enjoyed some excellent moments under Klopp’s guidance, but he never really showed any real consistency.

The 25-year-old came to Anfield with so much hope and promise, a forward who was starring for PSV Eindhoven and the Netherlands prior to his move.

But it didn’t quite click for Gakpo, that was until Slot arrived.

And following his poachers goal against Manchester City on Sunday, Gary Neville pointed out something that has changed about Gakpo this season.

Cody Gakpo is much more of a threat under Arne Slot

Speaking during coverage of the game, Neville thought he had seen an exciting change in Gakpo’s game.

So far this season, the Dutchman has scored eight goals in 20 games, a significant improvement on his 16 in 53 appearances last term.

READ MORE: Liverpool could sign player who Man City sold if Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves for Real Madrid

Gakpo wasn’t poor by any means under Klopp, but it always felt as if there was more to come, Liverpool weren’t quite getting the best out of him.

And speaking shortly after his opening goal, Neville said it was his extra pace this season that was really noticeable.

He stated: “Gakpo’s gained confidence but he’s also gained a yard. Real threat out on that left-hand side.”

Cody Gakpo shares what he said to Arne Slot which changed everything

Interestingly, when speaking to ‘Men In Blazers’ last month, Gakpo perhaps explained why he’s looked so much better this season, supporting Neville’s praise.

The forward had an honest conversation with Slot when he arrived, and well, the rest is history.

Gakpo said: “Before I came to Liverpool I also played as a left winger. Then I came here and I started to play more as a central striker.

“At the Euros, I played as a left winger again. Then this season the new manager came in, I had a talk with him and he said, ‘you have to focus on the left winger position…this is your position when you come on or when you start’.

“Because he said there’s a lot of competition here, so you just have to show yourself. But he said, ‘that is going to be your position’.

READ MORE: Cody Gakpo says Liverpool have a player on their books who is just so underrated

“It felt a little bit, for me, like the old me, like what I did at PSV as well. I feel really good in this position. I try to show my best to everybody, what I’m capable of.

“I think I come into more one-vs-ones now with my face towards the opponent, where I can really go inside and give a cross, shoot or go outside and give a cross – which is more my game, I would say, and where I think I can be really dangerous and help the team the most.”