In the Dutch tradition, Arne Slot loves wingers. There have been tactical rifts in the country over the years about whether they represent cogs in a rigid system or else the key outlets of individual expressionism, but the Netherlands nonetheless has a spotless and near-unbroken track record of producing dangerous wide men.
It’s interesting to reflect on what that means for Liverpool, should Slot arrive as expected. It could provide a transfer clue, but there’s also plenty to work with in the existing squad.
Luis Díaz seems like prime Slot material. He has faced criticism lately for his end product, but the archetypal Feyenoord goal involves a pull-back from the wide areas for someone arriving in the middle, so the winger’s one-versus-one ability could prove very useful in a system which masks any potential finishing weaknesses.
Whether Darwin Núñez can be trusted as the poacher on the end of those chances remains to be seen. But Slot might fancy converting him into a winger, given his pace and healthy assists tally.
Then there’s Mohamed Salah, of course. The question marks over his future are clear, with his contract ticking into a final year just as his form has dipped. But if Slot does get the chance to work with him, he will be in possession of one of the game’s greatest ever creative wingers.
The really interesting one, though, might just be Cody Gakpo. Like Núñez, he’s not considered a winger by default, having often played through the middle for Liverpool. But Slot could work wonders with him.
When Slot last encountered Gakpo, he was very much thought of as a winger. The Liverpool man was at PSV at the time, and was forging his burgeoning reputation on the left of the attack.
Slot’s Feyenoord side only conceded 30 goals on the way to the Eredivisie title in 2022/23. Four of those came in one game against PSV, with three of them assisted by Gakpo — he scored the other.
That was also one of just two games Slot lost in the league all season. He’s probably only just stopped having nightmares about Gakpo.
The first assist was from a corner. Gakpo crossed for Jarrad Branthwaite, on loan from Everton at the time, who flicked the near-post delivery beyond the goalkeeper.
Gakpo scored the next one himself. After PSV won the ball back high, it came to him in space, and he cut inside and curled it with his right into the corner.
But it’s the next assist that should really get Slot excited about the prospect of linking up with him at Liverpool. For PSV’s third, Gakpo showed some classic wing play; he turned away from goal, seemingly reducing the danger, but then suddenly whipped in a cross with his half-yard of space, finding the corridor where the keeper could not reach it but the attacker could.
After some more back-and-forth, it was 3-3 heading into the final 10 minutes. Interestingly, Gakpo completed his hat-trick of assists with another corner, something he’s not really done much of at Liverpool.
The previous season, Gakpo had scored both goals in a 2-2 draw with Slot’s Feyenoord. So it’s fair to say he is acquainted with the talent of the man he will soon be coaching.
This alone clearly isn’t enough to declare that Gakpo will thrive under Slot. But the manager has seen first-hand how effective a player his compatriot can be when utilized effectively, and his love of wingers should play into the 24-year-old’s hands.
We’ve been seeing a more confident version of Gakpo lately, with some nice flicks and touches against West Ham, as well as the heavily-deflected shot that put Liverpool in front. It’s becoming easier to see the player who departed PSV in January 2023 with nine goals and 12 assists in just 14 league matches.
In order to truly unleash that version of Gakpo, Slot will need to find himself a clinical finisher. But the flanks, such a key part of his philosophy, look to be well-stocked — the man who has been something of an enigma at Liverpool so far might be about to get a clearly defined role, and it could take him to a new level.
