Nathan Aké just told Cody Gakpo the importance of his job after mind-blowing confession from Liverpool

Nathan Aké just told Cody Gakpo the importance of his job after mind-blowing confession from Liverpool

Manchester City’s Nathan Aké has named a Liverpool star his toughest opponent ever. It must be a special revelation for compatriot Cody Gakpo.

Cody Gakpo withdrew from the Dutch squad on Thursday with illness, with the Liverpool forward returning to Merseyside ahead of Liverpool’s high-profile meeting with Manchester City in early April. When the Reds meet Pep Guardiola’s side next week, Gakpo is expected to perform as Roberto Firmino, whom he has emulated since he arrived at Liverpool nearly three months ago.

The Dutchman initially excelled as a striker at PSV Eindhoven, before moving to Anfield in the January transfer window as Jurgen Klopp looked to make plans for the future. Since his move, he has been deployed in the center within the confines of Liverpool’s preferred 4-3-3 system. He plays almost like Firmino, stepping into deeper spaces, connecting with his midfield team-mates and creating space for Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez to attack. wide from the outside.

Gakpo is still trying to replicate Klopp’s famous number nine, who will leave the club at the end of the season after eight years in service. The heir to the throne has been identified, but recent comments by Nathan Aké suggest that Gakpo has an arduous journey ahead of him.

The Manchester City defender has been talking lately about tougher opponents than him. In an interview with Hype Beat, Aké said: “Firmino has always been a tough guy because he could do everything: he could get in, he was going deep, he was very good with the ball. Firmino was probably the hardest [to play against] along with Salah. Every time they hit the ball I thought: ‘This is a challenge, but this is where I want to be: this is an opportunity to show that I can play at this level.'”

In the past, in fact, the Brazilian was labeled as a ‘connector’ of Liverpool by none other than Klopp himself. The German has always wanted to emphasize his importance, once saying he was almost always world class, even more often than Salah and Sadio Mane.

“Scoring goals has always been important, but Bobby is a complete footballer,” Klopp once said. “A soccer team is like an orchestra, to play we need people for different instruments, and Bobby plays about 12 instruments in our orchestra. It’s incredibly important to our pace.”

In the past, in fact, the Brazilian was labeled as a ‘connector’ of Liverpool by none other than Klopp himself. The German has always wanted to emphasize his importance, once saying he was almost always world class, even more often than Salah and Sadio Mane.

“Scoring goals has always been important, but Bobby is a complete footballer,” Klopp once said. “A soccer team is like an orchestra, to play we need people for different instruments, and Bobby plays about 12 instruments in our orchestra. It’s incredibly important to our rhythm.”

On the defensive side of the game, Klopp declared Firmino the best ‘attacking defender’ he has ever seen in his life. put pressure on opponents and encourage their mistakes. Gakpo has big boots to fill as he tries to evolve into a capable successor. He is prone to scoring and assisting, perhaps more so than Firmino, but his game in general is nowhere near as refined.

Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders will be by his side as he matures on the English coast over the next few years. Among other things, Gakpo needs to improve on his first touch, defensive contribution and ability to receive the ball under pressure in tight spaces, but it is a long-term project and a work in progress.

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No player but the original can become Firmino overnight, but Liverpool’s new number 18 is doing his best and Aké’s comments suggest he has a difficult task ahead of him.