Cody Gakpo shares Liverpool dressing room’s stance on Man City test – ‘You cannot deny that’

Cody Gakpo has warned Manchester City that Liverpool are ready to show the Premier League champions 'what we are made of'.

Arne Slot's side lead Pep Guardiola's side at the top of the table by eight points after 12 games, meaning Sunday's big match at Anfield will have major implications for the title.

And with Liverpool further buoyed by an impressive 2-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, Dutchman Gakpo says the Reds are in a confident mood ahead of their clash with City.

“It's a huge opportunity, I think, against a very good team, one of the best teams in Europe that has dominated a lot of games in recent years,” he said. “But this is a huge opportunity for us to show them what we are made of and that is what we intend to do.

“It's clear we're in a good position, you can't deny that. But I think it's still early in the season, so we're not really looking at the table yet. Of course we are aware of the situation, but we have to keep winning the games to stay at the top.

“That is what we train for, we work hard for, we also remain calm and I think that is also a strength of our team: that we do not really get carried away in the situation, but are really focused on the next one. competition ahead and that will also be the case now.

“I think that is very useful, also because we also have a lot of young players. The more experienced players in the team also help us: the players who have already won a lot know how to act in these types of situations. They also help us and that is only good for us.”

Gakpo scored Liverpool's second at Real after coming off the bench in midweek, his fifth time finding the net in six games. But he continues to compete for a starting spot with Luis Diaz, who started the season in red-hot form.

However, Diaz has been in and out of Slot's starting XI in recent weeks and there is healthy competition for places in a forward line who has been firing on all cylinders so far this season.

Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, Gakpo added: “It was a good game, a big result, so very happy with the start, but the week is not over yet so we have to keep going.”