Daniel Sturridge urges Liverpool to get best out of attacker who is a ‘different player’ for national team
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has urged the Reds to get the best out of Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo, who has exceeded expectations at EURO 2024. The 25-year-old has earned 28 caps with his country, and his recent performances have been notable.
Gakpo has driven the Netherlands into the quarter-finals with consistent quality from the left wing. He scored twice in the group stage, starting all three games, before providing a goal and an assist in the 3-0 win over Romania in the Round of 16 on Tuesday (July 2) in Munich.
While he has provided similar performances for Liverpool at club level, he has not been as consistent. He scored 16 goals and provided six assist in 53 games for the Reds, regularly playing in positions outside his preferred left-wing slot. He has often been used as a centre-forward, right-winger, central midfielder and attacking midfielder.
However, his performances on his preferred flank for his country have led to Sturridge pushing for the Reds to utilise Gakpo correctly. The former striker tweeted:
"Gakpo is a different player for (the) Netherlands, man. Gotta get the best out of him at (Liverpool Football Club)."
Placing the forward in the left-wing position at Anfield could see a change in position for Luis Diaz, as the Colombian has been a regular at that spot. However, time will tell if new head coach Arne Slot does that.
Pundits praise Liverpool star Cody Gakpo for impressive performances with the Netherlands
Daniel Sturridge isn't the only pundit to applaud Cody Gakpo's quality for the Netherlands at EURO 2024. England legend Gary Lineker has also named the forward as the "standout player" in the Round of 16 game against Romania.
Gakpo scored the opening goal in the 20th minute and provided an assist late in the game. On the Speaking on the BBC, Lineker said (via Metro):
"Brilliant performance from Gakpo, I thought he was the standout player."
Alan Shearer agreed, adding:
"Without doubt, he was a threat the whole game. He was outstanding tonight, a constant threat. That was the Netherlands’ best performance of the tournament so far.
"Even when they had to defend in the first 15 minutes they did so with great assurance. The midfield they dominated and if they had their shooting boots on they should have had six or seven."
The Netherlands face Turkey in the quarter-finals in Berlin on Saturday (July 6) after a brace from Merih Demiral helped them beat Austria 2-1 in the Round of 16 on Tuesday in Leipzig.