Cody Gakpo speaks out on Arne Slot Liverpool u-turn and decision behind AC Milan return

Cody Gakpo opened up about the reason why Arne Slot brought him back into the starting XI during Liverpool’s Champions League opener against AC Milan.

Gakpo was handed a start for the first time this season, with Slot having previously named an unchanged line-up for Liverpool’s opening four Premier League fixtures.

The Dutchman was able to repay his compatriot’s faith, as Gakpo provided the assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal in the second half – the strike that put the game out of Milan’s reach and confirmed Liverpool as opening night winners.

And when quizzed on being brought into the side, Gakpo served up an honest response.

Speaking to Amazon Prime after the contest, Gakpo commented: “Obviously every player wants to play and I got my moment.

“I think every player does [feel a need to take their chance] when they start, I really wanted to show myself and I am very happy with the assist and especially the win.”

Whereas on Liverpool’s performance as a whole, he said: “I think we had some more chances but they were dangerous in moments as well. Overall we controlled the game pretty good, so yeah a fair result for us.

It’s a welcome result for birthday boy Slot, who had come under some criticism following the weekend defeat against Nottingham Forest.

As well as the goal Gakpo assisted, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk both got on the scoresheet with headers from set-pieces during the Reds’ first-half comeback.

When asked about Liverpool’s threat from corner kicks, Gakpo replied: “We stayed calm, stayed focused and we have to thank our centrebacks for the two great headers. After that moment we controlled the game better. I think we work on it [set-pieces] every game, very happy it worked out today.”

In the end, it was a fairly comfortable evening for Liverpool, who had fallen behind after just three minutes.

Breaking in behind the defence, ex-Chelsea ace Christian Pulisic drilled beyond Alisson in the Liverpool goal.

It gets Liverpool off to a winning start in the new-look Champions League format, something Gakpo believes was paramount after the weekend result.

On the side’s reaction to Saturday’s loss, the ex-PSV Eindhoven ace claimed: “I think it’s important after the last game in the league we lost, we had to give a reaction and that’s what we did. And also in the Champions League campaign, it’s a good start.”

There’s no rest for Gakpo and co. though, with Liverpool returning to action this weekend when they take on Bournemouth at Anfield.

A League Cup tie against West Ham United follows that, before a visit to Molineux to face Wolves and then their opening home match of the Champions League campaign against Bologna.