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Roy Keane issues blunt Cody Gakpo verdict and names what must change in Liverpool career

Cody Gakpo scored and was excellent against Spurs. But the Liverpool man has been sent a blunt verdict by Roy Keane, with Daniel Sturridge offering some more leeway.

Cody Gakpo was an impressive performer for Liverpool against Spurs.
Cody Gakpo was an impressive performer for Liverpool against Spurs.

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo scored and produced an excellent all-round performance against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday to send his side on the way to victory. Starting ahead of Darwin Núñez, he fully justified his inclusion.

The Reds went ahead through Mohamed Salah's header, perfectly set up by Gakpo. And the Dutchman later rose to head in an effort of his own during an excellent performance on and off the ball.

But there is still work to be done for Gakpo's full potential to be unlocked at Liverpool. Since signing from PSV for around $46m (£37m/€43m), the 24-year-old has struggled for consistency.

"I don't know if he is an out-and-out number nine," Daniel Sturridge said live on Sky Sports post-match. "It's more about the role and what the manager wants.

"Him and Darwin Núñez are very different. If you play one of them in a tactical system, it is because you are trying to win in a certain way.

"As an attacker, having confidence is what enables you to play at a level that maybe people don't expect you to do. It's about having a run of games consistently."

"It's like with any big club, with any position you're playing on the pitch, you've got to be consistent," Roy Keane added. "The manager's got to be able to trust you and there are some players at Liverpool where Klopp has maybe lost that little bit of trust.

"You might get that in the summer. You never know... new manager, different dynamics and personality. But if you want to be a top player at a top club, you have to turn up every week. He doesn't quite do that at this moment in time."

It will certainly be interesting to see how Arne Slot gets the best from Gakpo. While it is far too easy to suggest that because both are Dutch they will have a good relationship, Slot's love for wide players does offer an opportunity.

Gakpo has mainly played through the middle during his time with Jürgen Klopp but he was bought as someone who almost exclusively played off the left flank. Ousting Luis Díaz from that role will be tough, but the change of manager in the summer provides a clean slate.

Whoever is the most consistent is likely to win out. And with more matches thanks to a Champions League place being secured this week, Liverpool and Slot will need as many reliable attackers as they can get.

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