Cody Gakpo makes frank admission over Liverpool's current standards
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesCody GakpoDutch winger Cody Gakpo gave a blunt assessment of Liverpool;s campaign so far and how performances have dropped from last season's title-winning displaysCody Gakpo admitted that standards have massively dropped at Liverpool this season(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)Cody Gakpo has said Liverpool’s qualification for the Champions League would not make up for what has been an unsatisfactory campaign.It’s a view most Liverpool supporters would share, given the champions head into the penultimate home match of the season 18 points behind leaders Arsenal. With no cup success, the only achievement Liverpool can manage is to remain in the Champions League places at the end of this transitional campaign.Gakpo is among those whose standards have dropped from last season’s title-winning displays, but he is determined to end the term on a positive note and build on a run of three wins in the last four.READ MORE: Chelsea has 6 players missing for Liverpool game after sickening clashesREAD MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai shares Liverpool locker room stance on Arne Slot being firedVictory over Chelsea on Saturday would all but secure a top-five finish in the Premier League and a place in Europe’s elite competition for another year.“That [Champions League qualification] is the most important [thing] now, to get it over the line.
To win our own games,” Gakpo told the club’s website.“Depending on results of other teams then it could be this weekend. It’s the biggest aim at the moment.Gakpo scored his 50th Liverpool goal last week(Image: Getty Images)“If you look at the whole season then this period where we won three out of four is quite positive – but I think we’re all aware of the standards that have been set in the past at this club, that it has to be better in general.”There was a similar message from Virgil van Dijk ahead of the game, with the Liverpool captain acknowledging in his program notes that the team’s levels have markedly dropped.“We know we still have a job to do to secure Champions League qualification for next season, and we want to do that as soon as possible,” wrote the ex-Southampton man.Van Dijk said this season has been "unacceptable" for Liverpool“We have three games left to play, and we want to win them all, starting on Saturday.“That [three points] is our target, nothing more,” added the center-back.
“This has been a very disappointing season – an unacceptable one, in my opinion – but we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. That is not what Liverpool is about."We are all frustrated of course, but we want to try to finish on a positive note, secure that Champions League spot and give you guys at least something to take away from a tough campaign.”Liverpool faces Aston Villa and Brentford in the final two games of the season, both of whom have European aspirations of their own.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCCody Gakpo