Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo is determined to make strides at Anfield this season after a period of adjustment during the second half of the previous season under Jurgen Klopp. In an interview with Voetbal International, relayed by Soccer News, Gakpo discussed his arrival at Liverpool last season and his new role for the upcoming campaign.

The Dutch winger joined Liverpool in a €42 million deal from PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window, following months of transfer speculation. During the summer, he was linked with moves to Manchester United and Leeds, but neither materialized, leading him to choose Liverpool.

Gakpo quickly adapted to life at Anfield and became a regular fixture in Klopp’s squad. He now feels prepared to progress further after several months of acclimatization with the support of his teammates. Gakpo expressed his satisfaction with his current situation, saying, “My feeling is good.

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.”

Although primarily a forward who can play on the wings or in a central role, Gakpo has been deployed as part of a midfield trio at the start of this season. This represents a new challenge for him, as he has spent most of his career on the left-wing. However, the move was made to accommodate the return of Luis Diaz.

While the transition hasn’t been seamless, it hasn’t been a complete failure either, as Liverpool has won three of their four games with Gakpo featuring in all of them. Gakpo emphasizes that with more time, he will become more comfortable in this new role, stating, “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. The trainer 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; it is important for me to become a more complete player.”