Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt believes Cody Gakpo will go on to thrive at Anfield - and has named who he thinks is a “celebrity” at the club.
The Reds are currently getting ready to face Real Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League. Gakpo will be looking to be included in the starting line-up, having begun to find form in a Liverpool shirt.
Gakpo has scored in each of his last two appearances for the Reds, most recently in the win over Newcastle United. The Dutchman was also on pre-match press conference duty as Liverpool prepare for their return to European action tonight.
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Kuyt, who made 285 appearances for Liverpool, reckons that Gakpo has already shown signs that he will be a good player for the Reds in the future. Kuyt has also explained why his compatriot will take time to settle into life in the Premier League.
“I hope Cody will find his place,” Kuyt told Voetbal International. “I think he is a typical Liverpool player: a lot of positive energy, he puts in a lot of work and he can play in several positions.
“It is good for his confidence that he will now also score. You can only really judge him at the start of next season.”
Kuyt added: “In my first months at Liverpool I also lost six, seven kilos, purely because of the intensity of English football.
“Thiago Alcântara was already one of the best midfielders in Europe before joining Liverpool, but even he had to find his feet again in England.”
Kuyt also had praise for another Liverpool star - Virgil van Dijk. Kuyt has labelled the centre-back as a “celebrity” at Anfield, and argues why he is the best player from his home country to play for the Reds.
He said: “For me, Virgil is the most successful Dutchman ever at Liverpool, although Gini has also won many prizes with the club. Virgil is now a celebrity at the club!"
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