- Liverpool suffered a 2-1 loss to Brighton
- Gakpo bemoaned the Reds’ latest defeat
- Slot gave an update on Ekitike who was injured
Cody Gakpo has admitted Liverpool can’t work out their inconsistent form following a disastrous 2-1 loss away to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Dutch attacker was “disappointed” after his side were defeated at the Amex.
The hosts took the lead through Danny Welbeck’s header in the 14th minute, but Arne Slot’s men found an equaliser 15 minutes later. Milos Kerkez found the back of the net to ensure the two sides headed in at half-time level.
Welbeck was at the double in the 56th minute, pouncing from close range to tap home Brighton’s winner. It was a nightmare for Slot, who would have thought his side had turned a corner after thrashing Galatasaray 4-0 midweek.
Gakpo Dejected After Brighton Loss
Liverpool squandered the chance to move up to fourth in the Premier League table. Instead, they gave Chelsea the chance to leapfrog them into fifth place should they beat Everton later today.
Gakpo played the full 90 minutes and watched his teammate Hugo Ekitike go off injured in the first half. He vented his frustrations following the defeat at the Amex, telling reporters:
“Disappointed. We wanted to win which is important in this situation we are in but it didn’t go that way, so it’s a difficult afternoon.”
When asked if the Reds knew why they’d lost the game, he replied:
“Not really if we knew, then we would try to solve it. But like you said it has happened a few times already so we have to analyse it to try to find what’s been hurting us.”
Liverpool’s defeat to Brighton has again raised doubts over Slot’s future at Anfield. The Dutch coach has been under pressure this season amid his team’s nosedive following their Premier League title win.
Ekitike update
The Reds’ woes are compounded by Ekitike picking up a knock, which forced him off in the first half. The French forward has been in fine form, and his absence was felt in the second half.
Slot spoke after the game about Ekitike’s injury and the impact it had on his team:
“The players and the fans know that there is only eight games to go to qualify for the Champions League and every game you have to miss is something you are upset about. Him going off and not being able to help the team – it is just a bit of bad luck. It is not like he will be out for three months but it is bad enough that he wasn’t able to continue. It was a blow for him and a blow for us.”
Ekitike has been in fine form, posting 11 goals and four assists in 28 league games. Slot will be desperate for him to be fit after the international break.
The Merseysiders turn their attention to an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on April 4th. They then make the trip to the Parc des Princes and face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
