Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory against Atletico Madrid at Anfield — but the triumph was quickly overshadowed by fierce criticism from one of the club’s former icons.
The ex-Red praised Liverpool’s attacking display yet singled out Cody Gakpo and Andrew Robertson, accusing the pair of disrupting the team’s rhythm and intensity.
“No doubt Liverpool played beautiful football and won 3-2 — but those two, Gakpo and Robbo, should have been subbed off in the first half,” the legend said. “They slowed the tempo, killed the intensity, and even made it hard for Alexander Isak to shine. Right now, they don’t look like Liverpool-type players at all. They don’t fit the system, they don’t match the energy — and if this continues, they’ll drag the whole team down.”
The blunt remarks sparked instant debate among fans. Robertson, one of Liverpool’s longest-serving defenders, has already faced criticism for recent defensive lapses, while Gakpo’s reliability in high-stakes fixtures remains under scrutiny.
Social media reactions were split — some supporters agreed with the harsh verdict, while others defended the duo, pointing to their key contributions in previous seasons.
Still, the warning is clear: in Europe’s most unforgiving competition, there’s no margin for passengers. Liverpool may have secured three crucial points, but with the spotlight now fixed on Gakpo and Robertson, the pressure will only intensify as Arne Slot’s men chase silverware this season.
