Jürgen Klopp on Cody Gakpo: 'I'm completely happy with him'
Jürgen Klopp has described himself as ‘completely happy’ with Cody Gakpo’s start to Liverpool life – and expects him to fulfil his vast potential during his time with the club.
The Reds swooped to sign the forward from PSV Eindhoven at the start of the January window and he has started each of the last four games.
Gakpo is looking to register a goal for his new side; however, Klopp is confident it is only a matter of time.
The manager told reporters during his pre-Brighton & Hove Albion press conference: "His defending is outstanding. Now everyone will say, 'OK we bought a striker and [you] talk about defending' but the defending in this position is outstanding, the centre position. That's really what we need.
“Everybody in this team is used to when the ball goes wide [then] goes inside to the six, that there is somebody around. Then, all of a sudden there is nobody around and they pass the ball from there.
“Against Chelsea [they had] two sixes, Brighton two sixes; that's the engine room, the decisive room, of a football pitch and we just let them pass the ball and, 'Whoops, done.' That's just not possible, so that's really good.
“He is good on the ball, you can see in his finishing he is a sensational finisher. His shooting from distance [is] outstanding, but in the games he is a bit in a rush and now in the moment not in the right position. It is an extreme strength of his and he has a long-term contract here and everybody will see that.
“I am completely happy. Of course, people say, 'But he didn't score...' Coming in as a striker in our team in this moment, congratulations, and then getting judged because you don't score, that's really cool.
“Of course, internally it's all fine, he’s fine, he’s a smart boy, he really wants to learn, a really good listener and, so, everything is fine with him."