Cody Gakpo has recounted how he felt relieved after speaking to Arne Slot during his first days at Liverpool.

Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s most important players since Slot arrived at the club in the summer.

The Dutch attacker has made 39 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season, scoring 16 times and registering five assists.

He sits second in the goal contribution charts for Liverpool this season, behind Mohamed Salah.  This is Gakpo’s most productive season yet in a Liverpool shirt, with his return of 16 goals last season coming after 53 games.

Cody Gakpo reveals what ‘big change’ Arne Slot did with his position	Cody Gakpo on Carabao Cup final: “I did it once at PSV…”	Cody Gakpo: Lifting a trophy is the goal

The reason for his improved form is not far-fetched, and it has something to do with his position.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Gakpo, who cut his teeth in the Netherlands as a devastating left winger for both his club and the Holland national team, played in a variety of positions across the front line and, on a couple of occasions, in central midfield too.

However, under Slot, he has predominately featured from the left, from where he is enjoying a productive spell in front of goal.

Gakpo has discussed his switch to the left side of Liverpool’s attack, recalling an early conversation he had with Slot that gave him the relief he needed to flourish.

“One of my first conversations with the manager here was about the position,” the 25-year-old told the Liverpool ECHO.

“I was wondering what he thought because I also knew that I could do a lot better than I did before if I played in my right position

“Obviously, he knew me already from the Netherlands, and I’d just come back from the Euros, which was good for me.

“He just said, ‘you have to focus on the left wing, I’m not going tell you that you’re going play all the games because we have Lucho (Luis Diaz) and other players who can come in and play who are really good, but if you come in or if you play, this is most likely the position you will play’.

“So there was already for me a kind of a relief that I could develop there and become the player I always imagined I could be.

So I’m working towards that point now, and hopefully, I can get better than I am today and help the team more as much as I can.”

“Why do I enjoy it on the left so much?

And another is I think also the qualities that I have, I can really use them from that position.”

Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone?