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Many people seem to forget that Cody Gakpo is only experiencing his first full season as a Liverpool player this campaign.

He arrived in January of 2023, to a struggling side that was shadow of its former self.

He had a positive first few months at Anfield, and Jurgen Klopp’s side to eventually secure fifth place and grab a European spot despite the slow start to the campaign.

This season, Gakpo has been used in a plethora of positions, be it as a centr- forward, on both wings, and even in midfield on occassion.

With how many injuries that have hit the Liverpool squad this term, it’s been normal for certain members of the squad to fill in where required.

The best illustration of this is Joe Gomez, a 26-year-old who filled in for players like Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas throughout the backline.

Even Mac Allister, who is now viewed as a midfielder who can play deeper and as a more capable No

8, has adjusted to what Liverpool needs of him.

However, Gakpo did not seem to benefit too much from the continued position changes, and rarely gets to play his preferred position on the left-wing.

Jurgen Klopp even alluded to playing the Dutch international out of position, saying that his form was ‘more my fault’.

After the Manchester United loss before the international break, plenty of criticism was aimed Gakpo’s way – with some of it becoming a bit nasty.

Even Jamie Carragher voiced his opinion in a tweet he probably shouldn’t have made.

And now the 24-year-old has responded while he was on international duty.

What did Cody Gakpo say?

Speaking to Voetbal International (via the Liverpool Echo), the Liverpool man maintained he can only put his head down and improve – and reveals he does not listen to the negative press:

“I personally wasn’t that concerned [abut the critics] ,” said Gakpo.

“I am aware of the situations that have occurred and that are occurring and the expectations.”

“I am someone who always looks at, what can I do better and how can I develop myself?”

“That is still the case today.”

“There are things that are going well and things that are not going so well that I have to develop that can be developed and I am fully engaged in that, and I am not really concerned with whether that transition has been successful anymore.” 

It is good to know that Gakpo seems unaffected by some of the negative attention he has garnered.

At times after the United loss, it felt like a witch-hunt – and tweets from a club legend like Carragher did little to ease tensions.

Nevertheless, hopefully he returns back to Merseyside refreshed and ready for the crucial stage of the campaign.


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