Press conferenceCody Gakpo on PSV reunion, taking responsibility, Liverpool's form and more

The forward was on media duty at Anfield ahead of Wednesday evening's league-phase clash between his current and previous teams.

Fielding a range of questions from local and visiting reporters, Gakpo spoke of the determination within the squad to turn around a disappointing run of results.

He also expressed the commitment to 'taking responsibility' in the quest to deliver victories, and discussed the feeling of coming up against PSV.

Read a summary from the Dutchman's press conference below.

On playing his former club PSV for the second time in less than a year...

The second time already! It always feels special to play against PSV. I obviously grew up there, was there a long time and have a lot of memories, so it's special.

On returning to the levels Liverpool displayed against Aston Villa and Real Madrid earlier in the month...

I think we try to get back to that. We know we are in a difficult position, but I think we have to stick together and that's what we try to do, on the pitch, outside of the pitch, mentally and performance-wise. It's not been the best of streaks, but we have to fight through that as well and we know we're capable of doing that because we've shown some good performances like those. We have to keep going and fighting together to get more of those.

On sticking together as a team...

The most important thing is we stick together no matter what happens, but we also demand more from each other because we need to perform together as a team. That's what the club deserves, what the fans deserve and that's what we are fighting for together. We are just being honest with each other that some things really have to improve to get back to that.

On blocking out external talk about Liverpool's form...

It can be difficult. Obviously, if you don't want to read anything or get anything into your head, it's almost not possible at these times with social media and whatever is going on online. Like I said before, if we are together inside of the dressing room, I think this is the most important [thing]. We can get confidence out of each other. We know we have to do better and if we stick together, that will be the end result: that we do better.

On players' self-confidence and Arne Slot saying he 'takes responsibility' for Liverpool's form...

I think every player, if you win a lot of matches and everything goes well, everything is going your way, you always feel better than when you lose matches and it doesn't go your way. I think we know how good we are, we've let that be seen this season and definitely last season, so I don't think you can lay the blame there [self-confidence]. We just have to do much better. We know that and we try every day to work at that. The boss takes responsibility for that, but we as players also have a big responsibility to ourselves, to the manager, to the club and to the fans. Like I said, we know what we can do, we've let it be seen before, but at this moment we are not doing that and we want to get back to that level. I definitely take responsibility for it.

• Training photos: Liverpool prepare for UCL tie with PSV Eindhoven

On building relationships with the new signings that have come into the squad...

Obviously new players came in. I think every time when a new player comes in, it is a little bit of adaptation or adjustment for everybody surrounding the player, because we don't know how he moves, how he passes, when he passes, how he runs, how fast he runs. So, I think that's a process. I think it is going well but maybe it doesn't help if we don't really win the games. I think if we would win every game, there would still be some improvements [needed] in the relationships but nobody would speak about it. But now, because we don't win the games, this can be a topic. We are working on that also in training, we speak with each other, we try to develop that relationship to really get to know each other. It has to come to a result that we are really going to find each other in the games and score out of these situations, or help each other.

On the feelings in the dressing room currently...

I think obviously after the game [versus Nottingham Forest on Saturday] it was kind of an embarrassment because we lost 3-0 at home in front of our own fans, which is not good because we know they are here to help us in every tough situation. But we have to give them something back as well, so that was not a good feeling, obviously. I think in the days after that, I don't want to say 'angry' but we try to speak together and really to be honest with each other [about] what we have to do better to perform better on the pitch. But we know that we also have to stick together and that's what we will try to do every game again. And to put in good performances and get wins.

On honest exchanges between the players and 'everyone taking responsibility'...

Yeah and I think everybody is aware we have to take responsibility, on the pitch and also off the pitch. This is just a conversation you have with a teammate, there was not really a 'meeting'. We are aware of the fact that we have to take responsibility, that we have to do better in certain things on the pitch. That's what we spoke about and obviously we are honest, because otherwise there is no point in speaking.

On whether it is 'strange' to face PSV and how he deals with it...

I wouldn't say strange; it's special, to be honest. If you look at 20 years ago, 10 years ago, when I played for the club, when the whistle goes then that just disappears and you want to win the match. And that will be the same thing tomorrow night.