Arne Slot challenges Liverpool player who caught his eye to ‘improve even more’ at Anfield

Arne Slot has called on a Liverpool player to “step up his efforts” even more amid a string of eye-catching performances for his national team.

The new Reds manager is keeping an eye on which members of his squad represent their country at Euro 2024 or the Copa America, and Cody Gakpo shone in the former.

The Dutch forward is currently the tournament’s top scorer heading into the quarter-finals, and his new boss at club level has challenged the 25-year-old to maintain that form into the 2024/25 season.

Slot told the media on Friday morning at his introductory press conference (via Liverpool Echo): “I hope Gakpo will outdo himself again! I hope we see the Netherlands play England in the semi-finals (of Euro 2024). Cody is having a very good tournament.”

Gakpo has scored 16 goals in 53 games in all competitions in his first full season at Liverpool in 2023/24, a more than respectable return for a player who has started less than half of the Reds’ Premier League games.

His goalscoring streak for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 has understandably left LFC fans eager for an equally prolific return to Anfield once he returns to Merseyside after the tournament, and it is notable that his rich vein of form has come from him playing on the left flank.

Jurgen Klopp has frequently used the 25-year-old as a centre-forward over the past 18 months, where he has admittedly had a better success rate for the club than when he was fielded on the wing (Transfermarkt).

Slot reportedly intends to use Gakpo in midfield for Liverpool (Football Insider), although the former PSV Eindhoven man’s performances at the European Championship must surely give the manager food for thought.

Much will obviously depend on where the Dutchman fits into the attack relative to his Anfield team-mates, but whatever exact role he occupies within the team, it will be hoped that he can extrapolate his Euro 2024 form over to a full season for the Reds.