Arne Slot has explained his reasoning behind switching Cody Gakpo back to his favored position on the left-wing.
The Dutchman played a starring role as Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners against Leicester City on Boxing Day.
Equalising for the Reds shortly before half-time, he set up Mohamed Salah late on to wrap up the victory
The 25-year-old now has 10 goals so far this season as he continues to thrive in his favoured role.
having previously been predominantly played down the middle by former manager Jurgen Klopp, Slot explained how a tweak in Liverpool’s attacking set-up enabled Gakpo’s change of role.
Slot
“The main difference maybe is the set up of the front three was a bit different than the set up now,”
“I think we probably expect a bit more from our wingers to keep it wide, to try to get them in get in one on one situations.
“Cody has done this really well. Lucho (Diaz) has done this really well when he plays from the left. But Lucho is, in our opinion, also capable of playing as a nine.
“He’s done that really well against Spurs. Against Spurs, it was mainly Lucho and Mo that were dominant, now it was Cody again together with Mo.
“It’s just nice to have so many options, in every position actually but also in the front three.”
Slot also praised Salah after he scored his 19th goal of the season against Leicester
Slot said
“Great goal, again. Similar to the first one from Cody,” he said. “I think both goals were quite similar.
“And I think it was just before we scored the 1-1, Mo had a similar shot that hit the bar. And just before, he had a shot with his right foot that just went over the bar.
“We arrived there many times and if these players, like Cody, like Lucho, like Diogo, like Darwin, like Mo, if they arrive often enough in promising positions, they will deliver.”
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