With a point at home against LASK Linz, Liverpool is assured of wintering in the Europa League on Thursday evening. The English powerhouse, having won the tournament three times already, has set its sights on a fourth triumph, as Cody Gakpo told at the press conference.
"We are, I think, in a different situation than last year. We are currently doing well, it can always be better, of course. But we are working hard and we are improving. At the moment, I would say things are going well. We want to win prizes together this season. We are on the right track for that, but we need to maintain it. We have carried this form from the end of last season," said the former PSV player, Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo also spoke about his personal development in England, where he is being deployed in various positions by his manager Jürgen Klopp. "I have, of course, played in a few different positions, as a striker, in midfield, and on the left wing. I can, of course, also do things better myself, that's what you want every day. It's a matter of hard work."
Klopp himself also spoke to the media, particularly about the injury to his goalkeeper Alisson Becker. In the absence of the Brazilian star, Klopp expressed his confidence in his Irish backup, Caoimhin Kelleher. "That's why we wanted Caoimhin here. Nobody wanted Alisson to get injured, but if it happens, you need the strongest possible option and he is that for us. That's the only positive about this situation. He would have played tomorrow anyway, but now he will play a few more games."
Furthermore, the German spoke about the intense period his team now faces. "We are starting the most intense period of the season. We play now Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday, which is extremely tough. Now we need to win against a very good opponent. We need to make sure we have a real European night here at Anfield. If the stadium helps, it is enormously useful. We need to make Anfield a great but also a terrible place for LASK."
Klopp also mentioned that Diogo Jota, one of Gakpo's competitors, is sidelined for a while with an injury. "It will take a bit longer than Alisson before he is back. How long exactly, I don't know yet, we will see," Klopp said, hinting at a goalkeeper absence of about two weeks.
