ReactionCody Gakpo: You can't drop one or two per cent against a strong side
Cody Gakpo felt Liverpool were punished for not being able to maintain their first-half levels after the interval in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Gakpo opened the scoring at Anfield in the 20th minute and was then joined on the scoresheet by Luis Diaz 87 seconds later to put the Premier League champions in control.
However, the Gunners fought back in the second period to rescue a point thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino, before the latter received a red card in the closing stages for two bookable offences.
Offering his reaction to the result, Gakpo told Liverpoolfc.com: "We played very well in moments, got 2-0 up – you should win the game.
"Obviously you know Arsenal is a strong side with a lot of qualities as well. But we as a team when we are 2-0 up, we shouldn't give that away.
"I don't really want to say [it was] a different Arsenal, I think it was a different us. I think we were not that sharp anymore, maybe not that focused anymore as we were in the first half, a little bit sloppy on the ball as well.
"They are a strong side, so when you drop maybe one or two per cent then they have the quality to take advantage of that – and that's what they did. But I think it was because of us dropping in energy level or something.
"I think after they scored twice, we got back up again and we created some good opportunities. Unfortunately, we didn't get a winner."
The opener from Gakpo – a close-range header from Andy Robertson's cross – means he has now scored in each of his last 10 starts for Liverpool at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah, from December 2017 to April 2018, is the only other Reds player in history to achieve that feat.
"Only two? So it's me and Mo? That's amazing to get a record like that," the Dutchman said. "So maybe if I score in the last game of the season... I have to start, so hopefully I start!
"That's an honour obviously to get that record – especially besides Mo, who has so many records. Amazing."
The next time Gakpo and his teammates play at Anfield will be for the final day of the 2024-25 season, with Crystal Palace visiting.
There will be a deserved celebration for Liverpool players and supporters at the end of that contest with the presentation of the Premier League trophy.
Gakpo continued: "Hopefully we give them [the fans] two more wins from our side and I think they deserve to have a great party.
"I think the last league title was in COVID. Now it's not COVID anymore, so I expect a lot! I think they deserve that.
"We fought really hard this season to make that happen. We will have a great party. And then we have to focus again for next season and hopefully get more parties in."
