Cody Gakpo shares who is the hardest player to come up against during training at Liverpool
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Liverpool have a whole host of players who supporters will be delighted that they don’t have to face on a weekly basis.
Darwin Nunez, for example, showed how difficult he can be to shackle while playing for Benfica against the Reds back in 2022.
These days, the only time Nunez scores against Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher and co is during sessions at the Liverpool training ground.
Give the quality within the Liverpool squad, those sessions must be of an exceptionally high standard.
With top attackers such as Nunez and Mohamed Salah coming up against Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, there are bound to be some good battles.
Cody Gakpo is another player who Liverpool’s defenders have to be on the lookout for in training but the Dutch forward has admitted that he struggles to get the better of one of them.
Cody Gakpo names Virgil van Dijk as toughest opponent
Gakpo can really make life difficult for defenders when he’s on his game.
Direct, quick and skilful, the 25-year-old is effective playing off the left or even through the middle.
Approaching the second anniversary of his arrival at Anfield, Gakpo is by now well versed in his Liverpool teammates and what to expect of them in training.
So, when asked by Pro: Direct Soccer to name his toughest opponent in training, the No.18 didn’t really even have to think about it.
READ MORE: Cody Gakpo reveals who he thinks is the quickest player in Liverpool’s squad
Asked to write the name of his answer on a whiteboard and with YouTuber ‘Angry Ginge’ tasked with guessing Gakpo’s choice, this one was hardly a difficult one.
The Netherlands international predictably went with compatriot Van Dijk, with Angry Ginge also guessing correctly.
“We have a lot of good defensive players,” said Gakpo. “But now we have the same [answer] again.”
Virgil van Dijk still the best around
Gakpo’s admission is yet another nod to the fact that Van Dijk is still right at the top of his game.
Coming up against the Liverpool captain on a daily basis is going to improve the standard of any attacker.
This can help the Reds two-fold and should be more encouragement for them to finally get Van Dijk tied down to a new contract.
Reports suggest that other top clubs are starting to circle Van Dijk and Liverpool must do all they can to stop him from going elsewhere.
If they lose the No.4 and he does end up at another side, he’ll be their toughest opponent in training, too. Virgil is simply that good.
