Cody Gakpo has highlighted his gratitude to Virgil van Dijk for helping him settle at Liverpool and believes his versatility is helping him become a “complete player” under Jurgen Klopp.
Gakpo joined the club from PSV Eindhoven for an initial £37m fee in January having established himself as one of the best young players in Dutch football on the left side of the attack for club and country.
Since moving to Merseyside, however, Klopp has attempted to shape the Holland international into a more central attacker in the mould of Roberto Firmino, who left the club at the end of last season to join Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia on a free transfer.
Gakpo has also spent a portion of the current campaign as part of a midfield three and the 24-year-old believes such adaptability is vital in a side managed by Klopp.
With new signing Ryan Gravenberch joining Gakpo alongside Van Dijk and coaches Pep Lijnders and John Achterberg, there is a strong Dutch influence at Liverpool and the No.18 explained how his recently-captain captain helped him get adjusted when he first moved from his homeland at the beginning of the year.
“My feeling is good,” Gakpo told Voetbal International (as translated by Sport Witness). “I can look back on a good preparation and start of the season, in which I played in different positions,
“Of course, it can always be better, that’s how I am wired, but I felt good and I’m enjoying myself in Liverpool. I came halfway through the season and there’s a lot to think about. Everyone at the club helped me a lot, including Virgil van Dijk who showed me the ropes, and I am very grateful to him for that.
“In the beginning it always takes some getting used to when you are in a different position, but then it is also important to pick it up quickly and show that I am versatile as a player. You just want to play and be of value, it doesn’t matter where.”
Gakpo added: “The trainer (Klopp) sees me as an attacker, but I can also bring those attacking impulses from midfield. That’s the reason I also make minutes there. We also play very dynamically, so that we have the space to change positions. This often happens naturally.
“Developing myself in several areas also suits me as a person. That’s how I am, and that also applies to my development on the field. That also reflects on how I am as a player, that it is important for me to become a more complete player.”
