Cody Gakpo became emotional as he reflected on a moment when he nearly turned Bruno Fernandesâ free-kick into a disaster for Liverpool â a split-second decision, the tense silence at Anfield, and the raw honesty of his reaction after narrowly avoiding catastrophe.
It happened in an instant: Fernandes curled a free kick from the right, the ball slicing through the air as defenders scrambled back. Gakpo lunged to clear it, and for a heartbeat, Anfield held its breath.
The ball skimmed dangerously close to the post â just inches from becoming a shocking own goal. The crowd gasped, and even Alisson froze, powerless to intervene.
After the match, Gakpo opened up about that tense moment, admitting how quickly it all unfolded.
âWhen the ball left Brunoâs foot, I just reacted. I didnât even see who was behind me,â he said softly. âAll I thought was: donât let it through. Then I saw it fly past the post⊠and my heart stopped for a second.â
His honesty highlighted both relief and the pressure weighing on Liverpool players this season â a stretched defense, a team still finding its rhythm, and a forward suddenly inches from disaster in his own box.
Analysts later noted that confusion in marking and communication during set pieces nearly cost Liverpool dearly. For Gakpo, however, the incident was more than a narrow escape â it was a stark reminder of how quickly control can slip away in top-level football.
âItâs strange,â he admitted with a half-smile. âYou train every day for perfection, and then one wrong touch can ruin everything. Iâm just thankful this time it didnât.â
That single clearance wasnât just a near-mistake â it was a window into the tension beneath Liverpoolâs calm exterior: a team constantly balancing on the edge, one moment away from brilliance or disast.
