Football

Liverpool ‘newcomer’ glad Reds have found form ahead of ‘big opportunity’

February 21, 2023 11:00 am
Liverpool ‘newcomer’ glad Reds have found form ahead of ‘big opportunity’

Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo is glad his club have found form at the right time, with the Reds winning back-to-back games ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

The Merseyside outfit defeated Everton and Newcastle in their last two Premier League matches, providing them with a much-needed confidence boost ahead of their round of 16 tie with the defending champions.

Tonight’s first leg at Anfield represents the first time the two European giants have met since last year’s final, when Vinicius Jr’s goal was all that could separate the two clubs.

Liverpool find form ahead of ‘big opportunity’

Liverpool have played nine games in all competitions in 2023 so far, winning just three of those. They have drawn twice, losing the other four.

Such form has seen the club drop out of the FA Cup and also slip to eighth in the Premier League table. Madrid meanwhile sit second in La Liga, eight points behind leaders Barcelona.

Jurgen Klopp has, however, guided his men to somewhat of a mini-revival in the last two games, with such form coming at the perfect time for Gakpo and Co.

The attacker, who has largely operated centrally for Liverpool as opposed to out wide, scored in the victories against Everton and Newcastle, with the goal against the Toffees representing his first for his new club.

“As a newcomer, I sense that the group is really good, we come together and stay together in difficult moments,” said Gakpo, as reported by LiveScore. “It was difficult to try to stay positive and keep helping each other, it has helped us go on to better things.

“When it’s difficult, a real team shows up. This is one of those times. We really stuck together and stayed positive and tried to help each other in the difficult moments. Just in time, we started winning games again, and now we have a big opportunity to show we are back on track.”

Liverpool

Liverpool forward trying to ‘adapt quickly’

As mentioned, Gakpo has largely been entrusted by Liverpool boss Klopp to play centrally, rather than on the left, where he largely operated at his former club PSV.

The switch in position has come amid many injuries for Liverpool’s attackers, with the likes of Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota only recently returning to full fitness. Darwin Nunez has also recently faced time on the sidelines, with Luis Diaz still out of action amid his knee injury.

Having only just returned, the former may once again be forced to watch on away from the pitch having picked up a shoulder injury in Saturday’s meeting with Newcastle, meaning Gakpo could once again line up centrally.

The Netherlands international has, however, suggested that he is happy to do his best in either role for the Reds, saying: “I played the last three years on the left side, but at the World Cup under Louis van Gaal I already played in the centre.

“I already tried to adapt to that, and when I came here the coach said it was possible for me to play on the left or in the centre, so I’ll try to adapt quickly to that position and improve.”

Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!