Dutch-Togolese Cody Gakpo calls out Liverpool’s slump as players hold ‘honest’ talks after Forest defeat

Cody Gakpo says Liverpool’s squad has held candid internal discussions following Saturday’s damaging 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, which deepened concerns about the team’s direction.

The Dutch-Togolese forward admitted that the heavy loss, Liverpool’s second straight by the same scoreline, forced players to confront the scale of their problems.

The club has dropped to 12th in the Premier League table and sits 11 points behind leaders Arsenal after three defeats in five matches across all competitions.

Gakpo, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with his former club PSV, described the team’s mood as deeply unsettled.

He said the players recognised their responsibility to respond after producing what he called an “embarrassment” in front of their supporters.

He explained that the squad addressed the situation informally but directly, acknowledging that results and performances had fallen well below expectations.

The forward stressed that the conversations centred on accountability, togetherness, and the need for immediate improvement.

“After the game on Saturday it was kind of an embarrassment as we lost 3-0 at home in front of our own fans,” he said.

“We know they are here to help us in every tough situation, but we have to give them something back as well.”

Gakpo added that players sought clarity about their individual and collective responsibilities.

He emphasised that the group cannot afford to fracture during a difficult run, insisting the only way forward is to show resilience and consistency.

“In the days after that, I don’t want to say ‘angry’, but we tried to speak together and really to be honest with each other about what we have to do to perform better on the pitch,” he said.

Liverpool’s season now hinges on whether they can generate momentum before the festive period, with pressure growing on Arne Slot as he attempts to stabilise results.