Arne Slot INSTANTLY fixes major Jurgen Klopp mistake | OneFootball

Arne Slot has been a huge success at Liverpool, and even after only a few months in charge his impact on the team is clear to see.

The transition between Jurgen Klopp and his successor has been a smooth one and the Reds currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Slot has already been able to show off his coaching skills, bringing players that had prospered under Klopp to new levels.

Ryan Gravenberch is the most obvious example, but one of his compatriots, Cody Gakpo, has also benefited massively from the arrival of Slot at Anfield.

What mistakes did Klopp make with Gakpo?

Jurgen Klopp admitted himself that he had made mistakes with the positioning of Gakpo and it seems clear that Slot views his countryman as a left-winger, and he’s pretty certain about it.

Under Klopp Gakpo did get some time on the left wing but he also spent much of his time playing centrally, and even played a few games as a central midfielder, an experiment that didn’t work out.

Gakpo’s output was still impressive under Klopp, with the forward scoring 16 and providing a further six assists in his only full season under the German, but he always looked an awkward fit playing through the middle.

Although he did get game time on the left hand side of the front three, Gakpo was never able to cement himself as the first choice in the position under Klopp.

© IMAGO - Liverpool Brighton Cody Gakpo

How Slot has fixed Klopp’s mistakes

Now, speaking to the Men in Blazers show on YouTube, Gakpo has revealed just how Slot has turned it around for him at Anfield.

“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, then I think last summer we had the Euros and I played as a left-winger again” Gakpo shared.

“This season the new manager came in, I had a talk with him and he said yeah you have to focus on the left winger position … this is your position when you come on or when you start.

“There is a lot of competition here, so you just have to show yourself.”

Gakpo has indeed been part of a fierce competition with teammate Luis Diaz for the starting left-wing spot in Slot’s side, and both players seem to be benefiting from the competition.

“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, so I try to show my best to everyone.

“I can win more 1v1s now … where I really can go inside and 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.”

Gakpo seems to be comfortable with his new role under Slot, and Liverpool supporters will be excited to see just how much the 25-year-old can develop under his new head coach.