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'You have to' - Arne Slot made big change after issuing Liverpool star with a warning
One of the biggest positives of Liverpool’s campaign has been the transformation in fortunes for a number of players under new head coach Arne Slot. Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch have both rediscovered their best form to become mainstays in the Reds’ starting XI despite difficult campaigns last time out.
Mohamed Salah has ensured the hamstring injury he suffered at the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year is now nothing more than a distant memory after returning to his devastating best while Luis Diaz is in the form of his Liverpool career with nine goals already so far this season.
Coming from just 11 starts, Diaz is well on-course to emphatically smash his previous Reds-best of 13 goals in a solitary campaign.
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What makes such a return even more impressive is the fact that the Colombian has had to share the position with the equally in-form Cody Gakpo.
While predominantly utilised as a centre-forward under Jurgen Klopp, Slot has unleashed his compatriot in his favoured left-wing position. He has been rewarded with six goals from the Dutchman from just eight starts.
Only Diaz and Gakpo themselves will know just how much the enhanced competition is motivating them and the impact the shared role is having on their electrifying form.
But, in the case of the latter he is certainly just enjoying being able to play regularly in his favoured position once again - to the extent that it is Diaz who now changes role when both share a pitch. And such a switch came after being given a big warning by his new head coach.
“Before I came to Liverpool I also played as a left winger,” Gakpo recalled. “Then I came here and I started to play more as a central striker. At the Euros, I played as a left winger again.
“Then this season the new manager came in, I had a talk with him and he said, ‘you have to focus on the left winger position... this is your position when you come on or when you start’.
“Because he said there’s a lot of competition here, so you just have to show yourself. But he said, ‘that is going to be your position’.
“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. I try to show my best to everybody, what I’m capable of.
“I think I come into more one-v-ones now with my face towards the opponent, where I can really go inside and give a cross, 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 the most.
“When I’m on the pitch, [I’m] really there to win the game, to show my quality. I think one of my qualities is going inside and going for a goal or maybe going for an assist. As an attacking player, I think that’s also part of the job.”
Gakpo continued: “When Liverpool approached me, I felt it was a very warm club, similar to PSV but a bigger club. I felt at home right away. The people and fans are amazing and they really helped me.
“I am very grateful to be here. It was a no-brainer. There are a few Dutchmen here. But overall we are a real family, no matter where you come from. From the moment I arrived, everyone treated me like a brother.
“The biggest strength of this club is how it doesn’t matter where you are from, just that you are part of the family. We will fight for each other.”
Such a mentality is demonstrated by Gakpo’s delight that Liverpool supporters are also finally getting to see the real Gravenberch following Slot’s arrival.
“I knew Ryan from the Eredivisie and everyone knew he was really good,” he told Men In Blazers. “He didn’t play that much over in Bayern Munich but everyone in Holland knew how good he could be.
“The manager knew this and gave him confidence. Ryan has shown his quality. He is outstanding. I am very happy that you now see the Ryan we as Dutchmen knew.”
