Cody Gakpo was speaking ahead of Liverpool's Premier League game against Arsenal
Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo has sent an Arsenal demand to his Liverpool team-mates(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo has called on his Liverpool team-mates to show Arsenal why they are Premier League champions. The Reds welcome Mikel Arteta’s side to Anfield tomorrow afternoon, with both sides having won their opening two league games of the season.
However, the Reds finished ten points ahead of the Gunners last season, with Arne Slot winning the league title in his first season in charge at Anfield. And while Gakpo admits Arsenal will be out to prove a point, he has called on his team-mates to show why they are champions.
He said: “I think it's always a big game against Arsenal and I think everybody is looking forward to the game. It's always good to play them and hopefully we will get the win.
“Obviously last season we were one and two, so I think it's for both sides that we want to prove a point. They want to prove a point, we want to prove a point.
“We have to go for it and especially at home, we have to show them that we are still the defending champions and that is what we will try to do.”
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Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, the Dutchman then continued: “Obviously I think when you play for Liverpool you have to win games and obviously when the season starts that's what you want to do.
“Even though the first two games were a little bit dramatic, we still got the win and I think at the end that's the most important [thing].
“Obviously now with this game coming up, we can really show what we want this season and we have to go for the win again, play a good game hopefully and don't let it be as dramatic as before!”
The Reds ran out 3-2 winners in their most recent outing, against Newcastle United, with Rio Ngumoha coming off the bench to score a last-gap winner.
And even though his side have taken maximum points from their opening two games, Gakpo admits that his side still have areas in which they need to improve.
“I think there is always stuff to improve on,” he admitted. “I think now as a team, I think everybody spoke also about the fact that we conceded in both games two goals and I think last year we started the season with some clean sheets.
“So I think that's what we would all like to go back to, but again, this is football and we play against very good teams as well and these things can happen.
“But we try to improve that, we try to improve up front as well to score more goals, so we are working every day and hopefully all the work we put in will come out in the game.”
On returning to Anfield, Gakpo admitted: “I think everybody knows how much difference our fans can make, I think they showed it through the years many times.
“Sometimes it feels like we have one more player on the pitch when they are on fire, so I think every player appreciates them very much.
“Hopefully they are going to be on fire like always again and we give them back the victory.”
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