Cody Gakpo once breached one of Jürgen Klopp’s ‘golden rules’ before Liverpool’s clash against Everton.
In January 2023, it was announced that the Dutchman would join Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in a deal reportedly worth £44 million. During one of his early matches for Liverpool, Gakpo faced Everton at Anfield. Fans noticed that Gakpo seemed to violate one of Klopp’s rules.
The Dutch player was observed touching the iconic ‘This Is Anfield’ sign as he entered the pitch. Klopp had previously instructed his players not to touch the sign until they had won something at the club, citing it as a sign of respect.
Klopp stated, “I’ve told my players not to touch the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign until they win something. It’s a sign of respect.”
Midfielder Thiago Alcântara also emphasized the importance of the sign, stating, “To touch this symbol, we have to deserve it and win all the trophies we can.”
However, Gakpo might get the chance to touch the sign officially if Liverpool triumphs against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley later this month. Moreover, Liverpool is still competing strongly in the Premier League, FA Cup, and the Europa League.
Reflecting on his time at Liverpool, Gakpo recently expressed his contentment, saying, “A year with obviously perfect moments, some lesser-good moments, but I’m happy to be here and hopefully, beautiful moments to come.” He praised the club’s environment, describing it as a big family, and expressed gratitude for the fans’ unwavering support.
Liverpool will resume Premier League action this weekend, hosting Burnley at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.