Cody Gakpo got on his shooting boots ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. To brighten his mood more, he has a friend from national duty in the camp, and he feels that all arrivals "adapted well and quick."
‘We have a good group in general’
After a 4-2 loss to AC Milan, **Liverpool**bounced back with three wins to wrap up preseason. They earned a 3-1 victory against Yokohama Marinos in Japan before beating **Athletic Club**in each half of the double header at **Anfield**on Monday. Gakpo gave an impression of good vibes in their camp.
“I think that it was a good preseason from the team. I think we worked very hard and enjoyed some good games as well. I think everybody is eager to start now this upcoming weekend. I cannot wait.”
He thinks that the newcomers have found it easy to integrate into the squad. Indeed, the Dutchman is now looking forward to playing alongside one of his teammates from the Oranje on a weekly basis.
*“We have a good group in general. That makes it maybe a little bit easier to adapt for new players to come in. A lot of the players knew each other maybe from playing against each other in the national team or things like this: **Jeremie Frimpong*and Florian Wirtz have come from the same club.”
The Dutch clique grows with **Ryan Gravenberch**and **Virgil van Dijk**also in the mix. Hugo Ekitiké arrives with Wirtz from the **Bundesliga**among the best in his position from the German top tier, and Milos Kerkez comes from Bournemouth, familiar with what it takes to succeed on English shores.
“That’s also easy. Jeremie plays with the Dutch boys in the national team and the others have those kinds of things too. I think they adapted well and quick. Hopefully, they feel at home. It is good.”
He hit the back of the net twice in a 3-2 triumph over Athletic Club and hopes all the boys enjoyed their first taste of playing for the Reds at Anfield, where the atmosphere of the supporters is special.
“It is always special to play there, even for the boys who played here longer. I hope they enjoyed it.”
‘They have a lot of quality’
The Dutchman delivered double digits for the Reds in the Premier League for the first time last term. He more than played his part with his goals on the way to the title, and more silverware might be on the horizon, as the Reds play against **FA Cup**winners Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.
*“We will the Community Shield. It will be an important game to start the season well. That is what we’re here for. We’re going to give it our best. Hopefully we come back with the **Community Shield*”.
Next Friday, **Liverpool**will kick off the new season with a battle against Bournemouth, another high-flying outfit from the middle of the pack in the Premier League. If they deliver a display of quality against the Eagles, they shall enter the opening matchday of the league with more confidence.
“If we play a good game with a good performance and get the trophy back home then we have good momentum for the rest of the beginning of the season. To begin well is always very important.”
Palace will be no pushovers in this meeting. They kept clean sheets against Aston Villa and **Man City**at **Wembley Stadium**to win the **FA Cup**and had the seventh best points haul in the top tier from early December, picking up the same tally as Chelsea(44). They have the respect of Gakpo.
“It’s a very good side. They proved that last season as well against us but also against other teams.”
The forward feels his team will have to earn the victory if they want to walk away with the trophy.
“They didn’t win the FA Cup without quality, so that means they have a lot of quality and a lot of good players. They deserved to win that trophy. It’s going to be a tough game with some good players on their side and good players on our side. Hopefully, the game ends with us getting the victory.”