Featured Image Credit: Liverpool FC/YouTube
Topics: Cody Gakpo, Liverpool, Everton, Premier League
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Cody Gakpo, Liverpool, Everton, Premier League
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has only played a handful of games for his new club, so he might just get away with breaking one of Jurgen Klopp's 'golden rules' ahead of the Merseyside derby.
The 23-year-old striker, who joined the Premier League side from PSV Eindhoven last month for a reported £35 million, scored his first goal for the Reds on Monday as they secured a crucial three points against struggling Everton.
It must have been a great relief to get a goal on his seventh outing for Liverpool. In fact, after the full-time whistle, Gakpo said it felt "amazing" to find the scoresheet at Anfield.
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He told Liverpool's official website: "It's always difficult to come out of the dressing room, and if we start off with a goal, that's amazing."
On the subject of dressing rooms, eagle-eyed viewers spotted Gakpo breaking a so-called Jurgen Klopp 'rule' soon after leaving the Anfield changing facility on Monday night.
In the latest episode of Inside Anfield on Liverpool's YouTube channel, the Netherlands international unintentionally performed a ritual that is technically off-limits.
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Before entering the Anfield tunnel, Gakpo touched the famous 'This is Anfield' sign above.
In his early days as Liverpool manager, Klopp said: "I've told my players not to touch the 'This Is Anfield' sign until they win something. It's a sign of respect."
As you can see in the footage above, those who have lifted silverware with Liverpool – Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold – all touch the famous sign before kick-off.
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But new boy Gakpo hasn't quite earned that privilege just yet.
Back in 2020, Liverpool midfielder Thiago revealed that club legend Fernando Torres told him the importance of not touching the 'This Is Anfield' sign upon his arrival.
He said: "As I heard once from Fernando Torres, this remains heavily the place we passed by for a couple of years, four more years," Thiago said while looking up at the sign.
"And to touch this symbol we have to deserve it and to win all the trophies we can and so that's why today I will not [touch the sign]. I will respect this tradition."
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After years of establishing his vision, Klopp helped Liverpool break their trophy-drought by winning the Champions League trophy in June 2019.
And their 2-0 win over Spurs in Madrid meant that players could finally touch the famous 'This Is Anfield' sign before games.
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In fact, a number of players were pictured embracing the tradition before their Premier League opener against Norwich at the start of the 2019/20 campaign, including captain Jordan Henderson.
Thoughts on the rule? Let us know in the comments.