Exclusive: Cody Gakpo credits Arne Slot for surge in form, feels Liverpool can achieve 'something special'

Cody Gakpo is enjoying one of his best spells of form since moving to Merseyside two years ago. The Dutch forward has netted 12 goals in his last 19 club appearances and is set to face his former side, PSV, in a largely second-string Liverpool line-up on Wednesday evening. Gakpo attributed his fine form to a key change in his position and said this Liverpool team can achieve "something special".

Gakpo outlines the biggest differences between Slot and Klopp

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Cody Gakpo believes a change of position has helped him unlock his best form at Liverpool, ahead of facing his former club PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Liverpool are one of few teams who are only playing for pride in their final match of the league phase, but a victory in Eindhoven would confirm their 100% win record in this season’s competition.

For Netherlands international Gakpo, it marks a first return to the club he joined as an eight-year-old since his move to Merseyside in January 2023.

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The 25-year-old has already matched his league goals tally from last season, and he credited a return to the left wing for his uptick in form.

"Obviously now I play on the left side, so I think that’s, for me, personally, the biggest change to my advantage. That’s what suits me the best, and I think that’s where I’m at my best," Gakpo told TNT Sports.

"I went to Liverpool, I played a lot as a central striker, which was new to me. So I had to adapt to being in a new position and also being in a new team, so at times, it was tricky.

"But yeah, I’m very happy that I’m back on the left now and I think that’s the biggest change that the manager did for me."

Regarding the overarching differences between the management styles of Arne Slot and his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, Gakpo pointed to the Dutchman’s emphasis on controlling possession.

"In terms of playing style with the two managers," said Gakpo. "I think now we are a little bit more focused on ball possession, trying to keep the ball in bigger phases of the game and really trying to create clear chances. I think the defensive part with the intensity is still similar."

But he also noted a change in the players’ mentalities heading into the business end of the season.

"I think we look differently at each other. I think you can see in everybody’s eyes that we feel that there’s something that we can achieve together," said Gakpo.

Liverpool ‘are fighting for something special’ this season – Gakpo

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"And I think also the way that it’s going with a lot of hard work, but also that everybody is knowing exactly what he has to do at the right moments and when things fall into place, then you can really feel the chemistry together and that we are really fighting for something special together.

"Hopefully it can remain [like this] until the end of the season."

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Slot: Fringe players have nothing to prove

With no material difference between finishing first or second in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Slot has taken the opportunity to give his top talents a breather.

Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz have all been left at home while the squad make the trip across the North Sea.

Slot insists fringe players do not have to ‘prove themselves’ against PSV

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So with a host of fringe and youth-team players set to start in Eindhoven, Slot was clear that the likes of Darwin Nunez, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas have nothing to prove.

"I know what they are capable of," said Slot on the players who will face PSV. "So it’s not that they have to prove themselves in this game, but it will always help if they play a very good game.

"But the main thing now is there are three or four months to go. There’s a few of them that haven’t played a lot and this is an ideal moment for them to get game time again, and that’s what you need.

"Because if the ones that have played a lot do pick up an injury, it’s nice that the other ones have had their playing time once in a while and are ready to come in if needed."

PSV still require at least a point to ensure their qualification for the Champions League knockout stages, and Slot knows the club well, having pipped them to the Eredivisie title in 2023.

"Nothing good comes from losing a football game in general, but for the rest, it doesn’t matter at all. We end up [in position] one or two when you look at the teams we are going to face," said former Feyenoord coach Slot.

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"So that’s why it’s mainly about performance. And it’s an interesting game because PSV are a very good team, especially a great force here at home in Europe and definitely in Holland.

"So it’s a good game for them and interesting to see where we are with the players we play tomorrow."