Netherlands manager tells Liverpool how to use Cody Gakpo

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has revealed the secret to unlocking the best version of Cody Gakpo, suggesting Liverpool should deploy him on the left wing rather than as a centre forward.

Gakpo has continued to impress on the international stage at Euro 2024 for the Netherlands, registering three goals in four games so far in the tournament. His success has helped his nation gain a place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Turkey on Saturday.

However, his success has come in a slightly different role to the one he usually plays at Anfield, with Koeman consistently picking him on the left wing rather than up front.

"His position is on the left side because he is really dangerous when he gets one-on-one with the full-back," the Dutch boss said following his side's 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16. "Inside and outside, he has his qualities.

"He is strong. He's playing at a great level this tournament. He's maybe been our most important player up to now and I hope the rest of my team can come up to his level."

For Liverpool, Gakpo usually plays as a centre forward alongside a range of attacking talent such as Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

If new Reds head coach Arne Slot decides to follow in Koeman's footsteps and play Gakpo on the wing, question marks may arise over the involvement of Diaz, who has been linked with a move away from Anfield to the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

Salah, whose contract is up in 2025, has also been tipped to leave Liverpool at some point over the next year, though the club refused to comment on speculation over transfers during Slot's unveiling press conference on Friday.

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