Cody Gakpo has described Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League trip to Arsenal as a very big game, stressing that the stakes go beyond just three points. The Reds travel to Emirates Stadium on Thursday night to face the current league leaders with pressure building in the title race.
Arsenal are looking to tighten their grip at the top, a situation already analysed by SoftFootball. Liverpool arrive in North London unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, but momentum stalled slightly at the weekend.
A dramatic 2-2 draw with Fulham saw Gakpo score in added time, only for Harrison Reed’s long-range strike to deny Arne Slot’s side a vital win, as reported by SoftFootball. That result has made the Arsenal clash feel even bigger inside the Liverpool camp.
Speaking ahead of the game in a post shared on the club’s official X account, Gakpo explained that the match is important both emotionally and competitively. He believes Liverpool must now prove they can deliver when it matters most.
He said:
[It’s] a very big game. I think the game itself is very big but regarding our situation as well it’s a big game for us to show what we can do.
He added that consistency has been the missing piece this season, admitting:
We try to do that the whole season and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. But I think [with] the situation we are in it really has to work in this game. In some [different] ways it’s a big game.
The Dutch forward also touched on Liverpool’s mindset as they try to climb the table. He stressed that the squad remains united despite occasional setbacks.
Gakpo said:
We need to go game by game and keep climbing. That’s what we’re working towards together every day again and even though sometimes the results are disappointing, or the performance is not as good as we want it to be, we stay together and we keep working towards that goal.
Gakpo’s versatility has been vital in recent weeks. Against Fulham, he led the line as a striker and enjoyed the responsibility.
He explained, underlining his willingness to adapt for the good of the team:
I can do whatever the team asks me to do and I will do whatever I can to be the best version of myself and to try to help the team as much as I can.
Arsenal, however, present a serious challenge. They are unbeaten at home this season, though Liverpool will take confidence from their 1-0 win in the reverse fixture back in August.
Reflecting on his personal progress, including reaching double figures for club and country, Gakpo played it down.
He said:
That’s a good achievement for myself but I think the main focus from me and the whole team is the situation here and I think we can do so much better than we are showing.
For Liverpool, Thursday night is about much more than stats. It is about showing they still belong right at the top.
