Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has backed winger Cody Gakpo ahead of the FA Cup clash against Brighton.
Liverpool confirmed the signing of Gakpo, at the start of the January window, with the Dutch international forward joining from PSV Eindhoven.
The 23-year-old, who scored three goals at the World Cup for the Netherlands, has started each of the last four games. However, he is yet to score for his new club.
"His defending is outstanding. Now everyone will say, 'OK we bought a striker and [you] talk about defending' but the defending in this position is outstanding, the centre position. That's really what we need,” Klopp told reporters during his pre-Brighton & Hove Albion press conference.
“Everybody in this team is used to when the ball goes wide [then] goes inside to the six, that there is somebody around. Then, all of a sudden there is nobody around and they pass the ball from there.
“Against Chelsea [they had] two sixes, Brighton two sixes; that's the engine room, the decisive room, of a football pitch and we just let them pass the ball and, 'Whoops, done.' That's just not possible, so that's really good.
“He is good on the ball, you can see in his finishing he is a sensational finisher. His shooting from distance [is] outstanding, but in the games he is a bit in a rush and now in the moment not in the right position. It is an extreme strength of his and he has a long-term contract here and everybody will see that.
“I am completely happy. Of course, people say, 'But he didn't score...' Coming in as a striker in our team in this moment, congratulations, and then getting judged because you don't score, that's really cool.
“Of course, internally it's all fine, he’s fine, he’s a smart boy, he really wants to learn, a really good listener and, so, everything is fine with him."
According to reports, Liverpool will pay an initial fee of £37 million ($45 million) with Gakpo signing a contract until 2028.