Cody Gakpo has admitted Liverpool’s players held “honest” conversations in the aftermath of their humiliating 3–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, describing the atmosphere in the dressing room as one of embarrassment and collective responsibility.
Liverpool’s form has collapsed drastically, with eight defeats in their last 11 matches across competitions and three separate 3–0 losses in their last five league games. The defending champions have dropped into the bottom half of the Premier League table, prompting urgent internal discussions ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven — Gakpo’s former club.
Following captain Virgil van Dijk’s blunt post-match comments about players needing to “take responsibility,” Gakpo has now confirmed that the squad met to address the crisis head-on.
“It was kind of an embarrassment” – Gakpo
Speaking ahead of the PSV clash, Gakpo did not sugarcoat the dressing-room mood:
“After the game on Saturday it was kind of an embarrassment as we lost 3–0 at home in front of our own fans. We know they are here to help us in every tough situation but we have to give them something back as well.”
The Dutch forward said the group have confronted each other openly in recent days:
“We tried to speak together and really be honest with each other about what we have to do to perform better on the pitch. We know we have to stick together to put in good performances and get wins.”
The repetition of the message — unity, accountability, honesty — underlines how fragile Liverpool’s confidence has become.
“We don’t know where that resilience has gone”
Asked about Liverpool’s alarming lack of resilience in recent months, Gakpo was frank:
“I don’t know where it’s gone but we should try to get back to that. We know we are in a difficult position… It’s not been the best of streaks and we have to fight through that.”
He pointed to matches like the recent win over Real Madrid as evidence that the team can still perform at an elite level, but admitted those performances have been far too rare.
Blocking out noise “almost impossible”
Gakpo also acknowledged the difficulty of avoiding outside criticism:
“If you don’t want to read anything or get anything into your head it’s almost not possible nowadays with social media and online.”
For a squad under intense scrutiny, emotional resilience is becoming as important as tactical improvement.
Cody Gakpo’s season so far
| Stat (2025/26) | Gakpo |
|---|---|
| Matches | 17 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 3 |
source: Transfermarkt data
The Dutchman’s output has been solid, but not enough to offset the team’s collective issues — particularly structural problems in midfield and a defence conceding high-value chances at an alarming rate.
Our View: These “honest talks” must translate to pitch-level leadership
Having tracked Liverpool through multiple downturns over the past decade, this stretch feels different. In our view, the squad understands that the Anfield aura has cracked — and verbal accountability is no longer enough.
Although some supporters believe the team will naturally rebound, other indications point differently: the patterns behind Liverpool’s defeats are systemic, not coincidental. This seems optimistic for a squad with elite talent, but cohesion, intensity and defensive focus have evaporated.
From experience covering dressing-room resets, honesty meetings only matter if the behaviour changes on the pitch — pressing, transitions, resilience under pressure. Liverpool need leaders beyond van Dijk: goal-scorers, creators, bench players, everyone.
Gakpo’s willingness to speak publicly is a step forward — but now Liverpool must respond collectively.
Key Insights
- Gakpo says Liverpool held “honest” talks after Forest humiliation.
- Team described 3–0 defeat at Anfield as “embarrassment”.
- Liverpool have lost eight of their last 11 matches.
- Gakpo admits resilience has “disappeared”.
- Blocking out social media criticism is now “almost impossible”.
- Dutchman has 4 goals and 3 assists in 17 appearances this season.
What’s Next
Liverpool host PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, knowing a convincing performance is essential not just for qualification — but for rebuilding belief. Another setback could deepen concerns around both the squad and manager Arne Slot.
👉 Liverpool fans — do these “honest talks” actually change anything, or do the issues run deeper?
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