Cody Gakpo is thriving for the Netherlands after Liverpool struggles

Cody Gakpo has been the driving force behind the Netherlands’ run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

The Liverpool forward was named Player of the Match in a 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16, grabbing a goal and an assist in what was the Dutch’s most convincing performance at the tournament so far.

With two goals in the group stage, his tally of three in four games so far puts him joint first in the race for the Golden Boot.

The 25-year-old’s leading role in Germany is in contrast to the relatively underwhelming season he has just had at Anfield, which saw him struggle for consistency and often play a peripheral part in their attack.

So, what is the secret behind Gakpo’s success for his country? Read on as we take a closer look.

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Best position

Gakpo earned his £35million move to Liverpool in 2023 with his impressive form on the left side of attack for PSV Eindhoven, cutting inside to make himself a threat on goal.

In that position, he scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 27 games during the first half of the 2022-23 campaign prior to leaving for Anfield in January.

At Liverpool, he is one of several attacking stars, meaning he is often shifted more centrally to accomodate the likes of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and only 13 league starts last season shows he has struggled to make a position his own.

That is no such issue for the Netherlands, with the left wing is firmly his – much like his PSV days. Under Ronald Koeman, he is given the license to run at right-backs, with most at this tournament struggling to deal with his pace and power.

Cody Gakpo emphatically opened the scoring for the Netherlands against Romania 🤩#Euro2024 | #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/ihkfM7CyMe

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 2, 2024

Manager Ronald Koeman said after the Romania win: “Yes, he can play as a striker, but he has shown today that he’s most dangerous from the left side.

“His starting position is on the left side because he is really dangerous if he comes one against one with the right full-back.

“He can go inside, outside, he has his qualities, he’s strong. He’s playing a great level this tournament, maybe the most important player until now. I hope that the rest can come to that level.”

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Harnessing his goal threat

Eight goals and five assists in the Premier League show Gakpo is a clinical player and the Netherlands are making the most of that in Germany.

In fact, only one player has bettered the Dutchman’s tally of six at the last two major international tournaments – and his name is Kylian Mbappe.

His three goals at Euro 2024, scored from only seven shots on target, place in esteemed company among his countrymen too.

The other Dutch players to score that many at a tournament are Marco Van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Ruud van Nisterlooy and Georginio Wijnaldum.

All those record proves he is a man who can handle the burden of being the team’s main goalscorer and perhaps make the fact his Anfield career hasn’t set alight all the more puzzling.

Gakpo recently said of his Liverpool struggles: “It doesn’t always go how you like, sometimes you have a spell where things don’t go your way.

“But I have a great team at Liverpool, great people who are there for you, they kept believing in me and helping me. The last few games of the season we were also good, I played good games.

“I took that with me and kept working hard and I’m very happy I can be of value in this game tonight [vs Romania].”

Cody Gakpo fires the Netherlands ahead 🔥

He becomes the joint top-scorer at the Euros with three goals 👏#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/DvLJoOYmeb

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 2, 2024

Can Slot get the best out of Gakpo?

The good news for Gakpo is that when he returns to Liverpool, he will be playing under a manager who knows him well from his time in the Netherlands.

Arne Slot will kick off a new era on Merseyside after three years in charge of Feyernoord as well as one with AZ Alkmaar, where he regularly came up against his Dutch compatriot.

He will be well aware of his talents and will have been keenly watching his performances this summer – though the question remains whether he can make the left side his own at Anfield.

Diaz, Nunez and, of course, Mohamed Salah have proven more effective weapons in the wide positions, while the Reds’ reported pursuit of Anthony Gordon only adds to his competition.

If he can produce more magic for his country against Turkey, Slot may have no choice but to find a way to fit Gakpo into his side.