Cody Gakpo on new goals, forwards, and a friendly between Liverpool and Leicester

Cody Gakpo is learning about his first preseason with Liverpool as he looks to improve on his first seven months with the team.

The Netherlands international, who was signed by the Reds in January from PSV Eindhoven, scored seven goals for them in the second half of 2022–23.

He is currently enjoying his first summer with Jürgen Klopp’s team, who are currently in Singapore as they ramp up their preparations for the upcoming campaign.

On Sunday, Gakpo and company face Leicester City at the National Stadium, and on Wednesday, they face Bayern Munich. Both games will be broadcast live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO.

Before the meeting with the Foxes, we sat down with Gakpo at the team hotel to hear his opinions on the welcome in Singapore, stepping up preseason, the Reds’ forward options, and why he sets goals for himself.

Read the conversation with Liverpoolfc.com below.

How are things going for you, Cody?

It’s day two in Singapore.

The weather is a little warm and hot, so that’s good.
But it’s nice and the inhabitants are very pleasant. It’s nice because I like it here.

How nice is it to see the extensive fan base that Liverpool has when you are on your first preseason tour with the team?

There are fans everywhere, which is really cool to see. We are extremely grateful for their support, which they provide.

There are now only two weeks left until the season opener at Chelsea. How prepared do you and the team feel as the game draws closer?

We’re probably ready to go. We did a lot of training in Germany, including tactical, good, and challenging sessions.
So, yes, progress is being made.

We work toward that goal because we need to be prepared at the end, and I believe everyone is eager to begin the new season.

Has the intensity of the sessions helped you adapt even more, in part because you didn’t have the opportunity for a pre-season since you joined midway through the previous season?

Preseason is always a good time to get to know the team and learn how to play the way the coach wants. You can go into greater detail in the preseason than you can in the middle of the season. Consequently, it is very helpful.

On Sunday, Leicester will play; they have a new manager and changes for them. What do you anticipate from the game?

We know Leicester well and they are a good team, so the game will be good. Checking our own readiness and fitness levels is important for our own well-being. It’s a good match, and we’re eager to play, but there are still some things we can improve on.

Considering that all of you forwards have already scored in preseason, there must be a lot of enthusiasm among the group.

It’s critical, in my opinion, that the forwards score as soon as possible. I must say that there is a positive vibe among all of us, and we are right now just totally focused on getting the season off to a great start. We are striving for that.

Before the start of a new season, do you ever set goals for yourself in terms of goals or assists?

Yes, I agree that it’s critical to establish individual and team goals. That is only done in order to improve as a player and perform at the highest level for the team.