Image Credits: Imago Images
Arne Slot’s departure from Liverpool has had an understandable impact on the players of Liverpool Football Club.
After winning the Premier League title under his leadership in 2024/25, the players second season with Arne Slot at the helm told a different story.
A summer of immense change derailed any progress under Arne Slot and the season began on the back foot.
Performance dipped and the Reds stumbled to a fifth-place finish that resulted in the Dutchman’s dismissal from the club just a year on from winning Liverpool’s second top-flight title in the 21st century.
The news of Arne Slot’s departure dropped just as the majority of Liverpool’s squad were on their way to link up with their national teams to prepare for this summer’s World Cup.
Due to this, they are being questioned by reporters about their thoughts on the news.
Cody Gakpo, whilst suited up in the colours of the Netherlands admitted that he felt it was a “shame” that Arne Slot had been relieved of his duties whilst also becoming the latest player to admit that they didn’t see the decision coming.
Speaking to ESPN, the Liverpool forward said: “A shame that the manager has been sacked. Especially so soon after the season where we had fought to qualify for the Champions League.”
“But yes, that… I believe the club released a statement about that with the explanation in it. I don’t think anyone, any of the players saw it coming. It certainly happened, but apart from that, I think many of our players at the club are also working towards the World Cup now. We have to put it to the side. I had of course sent him a message to thank him for the past two years and of course with the highlight of last season.”
Cody Gakpo was the fourth most used player under Arne Slot, racking up 101 appearances during the head coach’s time at the club.
Only Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai featured more than him.
A couple of months into Arne Slot’s first season in charge, Cody Gakpo heaped the praise onto his compatriot, thanking him for moving him back to his preferred left-wing role.
During the time he spent at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, Gakpo was often deployed in the central attacking position.
Speaking in November 2024, Gakpo said: “This season the new manager came in, I had a talk with him and he said, ‘you have to focus on the left winger position…this is your position when you come on or when you start.”
“Because he said there’s a lot of competition here, so you just have to show yourself. But he said, ‘that is going to be your position.”
“It felt a little bit, for me, like the old me, like what I did at PSV as well. I feel really good in this position. I try to show my best to everybody, what I’m capable of.”
Cody Gakpo arguably played his best football in a Liverpool shirt during Arne Slot’s debut season, and the former head coach is no doubt someone that the player will miss tremendously.