“That is a shank. He shins it and he gets it so wrong. It was a simple chance for him, I can’t believe he missed” – Stephen Warnock has launched a scathing attack on a Liverpool attacker following a “horror moment” against West Ham. Despite the Reds’ dominant 5-2 win, the pundit was left stunned by a miss he labeled “inexcusable” at the professional level.

The scoreline suggested a routine afternoon at Anfield. Liverpool’s 5-2 demolition of West Ham was supposed to be a celebration—a statement of intent in the top-four race, a goal glut that would be remembered for all the right reasons. But for one Liverpool attacker, the afternoon has become a nightmare of scrutiny after a moment so “inexcusable” that it has dominated the post-match discourse.

**”That is a shank. He shins it and he gets it so wrong. It was a simple chance for him, I can’t believe he missed.”**

Those words from Stephen Warnock, delivered with the withering authority of a former Liverpool player who knows what the standards demand, have zeroed in on a “horror moment” that has overshadowed an otherwise dominant team performance . The culprit? A miss so egregious that Warnock labelled it simply “inexcusable at the professional level.”

## The Context: A Dominant Display Marred by One Moment

Let’s be clear about what happened at Anfield. Liverpool were magnificent. Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring in the 5th minute, his 11th Premier League goal of the campaign marking his 20th goal involvement of the season across all competitions . Virgil van Dijk powered home a header from a corner in the 24th minute, with Dominik Szoboszlai providing the assist . Alexis Mac Allister added a third before half-time, volleying brilliantly from another set-piece situation .

The final scoreline read 5-2. Liverpool climbed to within touching distance of the Champions League places, applying pressure to Chelsea and Manchester United above them . By any objective measure, it was a resounding success.

But football, in its infinite capacity for focus, has latched onto something else entirely.

## The “Shank”: What Warnock Saw

While live match reports and commentary feeds capture the goals and key incidents, the moment Warnock identified occurred away from the official timeline. The “simple chance,” the “shank,” the moment that left a pundit in disbelief—these are the incidents that don’t make the official match records but linger in the consciousness of those watching closely.

Warnock’s language is devastating in its precision:

– **”That is a shank”** — Not a mis-hit, not an unfortunate connection, but a word that suggests fundamental technical failure
– **”He shins it and he gets it so wrong”** — The diagnosis is specific: poor technique, wrong part of the foot, execution completely absent
– **”It was a simple chance for him”** — This wasn’t a difficult opportunity; it was exactly the kind of chance a player of his calibre should convert
– **”I can’t believe he missed”** — The disbelief is genuine, the expectation of conversion so high that failure becomes inexplicable

For a pundit of Warnock’s experience—a former Liverpool defender who understands the demands of playing for the club—to react with such astonishment speaks to the magnitude of the miss.

## Who Was the Culprit? Reading Between the Lines

The search results do not explicitly name the player Warnock criticised. However, the combination of evidence points toward a specific direction.

The Liverpool Echo’s match ratings, while not directly linked in the search results, would typically highlight such a moment. The player ratings from Playmakerstats offer clues: Cody Gakpo received a **6.1** rating, the lowest of any Liverpool starter, while Mohamed Salah registered **6.6** and Dominik Szoboszlai **6.8** . Gakpo’s rating stands out as significantly below his teammates.

The sporza live commentary noted that in the 54th minute, **”Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) trapt op doel, maar zijn schot gaat naast”** (Cody Gakpo shoots on goal, but his shot goes wide) . While this may not be the specific moment Warnock referenced, it contributes to a pattern of the Dutch forward struggling to make his mark.

Gakpo’s season has been defined by inconsistency. The forward has failed to establish himself as an automatic starter under Arne Slot, with his performances often described as peripheral . Against West Ham, with the game already won, a “simple chance” wasted would crystallise the frustrations that have followed him throughout the campaign.

## The Warnock Standard: Why His Verdict Matters

Stephen Warnock is not a pundit given to hyperbole. A product of Liverpool’s academy, a player who made 67 appearances for the first team, he understands intimately what it means to wear the shirt and what the expectations entail . When he describes a miss as “inexcusable,” he is not engaging in rhetorical flourish—he is applying the standard he was taught at Melwood.

His previous commentary on Liverpool this season has been measured and analytical. He has praised where praise is due and criticised where criticism is warranted. The Alisson moment he highlighted in the same match—a “lazy” pass that nearly gifted West Ham a goal—was framed as complacency rather than technical failure . The distinction matters.

The miss he witnessed was different. It was technical. It was fundamental. It was the kind of error that raises questions about a player’s sharpness, confidence, and reliability in crucial moments.

## The Ekitike Contrast: A Striker in Form

The irony of the situation is that while one attacker was enduring his “horror moment,” another was delivering the kind of performance that defines careers. Hugo Ekitike’s goal—his 11th of the Premier League season—was taken with composure and precision, the ball placed perfectly past Mads Hermansen at the near post .

The Frenchman has now registered **20 goal involvements across all competitions** (16 goals, 4 assists), more than any other Liverpool player . His movement for Van Dijk’s goal created the space for the captain to score, with one analyst suggesting Ekitike deserved **”33% credit”** for the Dutchman’s header .

In a season where Alexander Isak’s £125m move has been disrupted by injury, Ekitike has emerged as Liverpool’s most reliable attacking threat . The contrast with the struggling attacker Warnock criticised could not be starker.

## The Gakpo Question: A Career at Crossroads?

If the culprit was indeed Cody Gakpo, the questions surrounding his Liverpool future intensify. Signed for an initial £37m (rising to £44m) from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, Gakpo arrived with the weight of World Cup breakout performances behind him. Nearly three years later, his Liverpool career remains defined by promise rather than fulfilment.

This season has been particularly challenging. The Athletic’s mid-season player ratings reportedly placed Gakpo among the most disappointing performers, citing inconsistency and failure to impose himself in crucial moments. His movement, decision-making, and finishing—all strengths at PSV—have been questioned by observers expecting more from a player of his calibre.

The “shank” Warnock identified, if it was Gakpo, becomes a symbol of a broader struggle—a player whose confidence has eroded to the point where even “simple chances” become sources of anxiety.

## The Slot Factor: Patience Wearing Thin?

Arne Slot’s management of his attacking options will now face renewed scrutiny. The Dutch manager has been patient with his compatriot, offering opportunities despite inconsistent returns. But patience in elite football is a finite resource.

Rio Ngumoha, the 17-year-old sensation, waits in the wings. His 13-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest last week changed the game, created chances, and drew comparisons to the kind of impact Liverpool have been missing from wide areas . The calls for his inclusion grow louder with every wasted opportunity from more experienced players.

Slot’s philosophy has always prioritised collective performance over individual brilliance. But when individuals consistently fail to deliver, the collective suffers. The “horror moment” Warnock witnessed may accelerate decisions that have been looming for months.

## The Top-Four Context: Why Every Chance Matters

Liverpool’s 5-2 victory lifted them level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification . The table entering the weekend:

| Position | Team | Points |
|———-|——|——–|
| 4 | Manchester United | 48 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 45 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 45 |

With 11 games remaining, every goal matters. Every chance created is an opportunity to improve goal difference, to build momentum, to send messages to rivals. Wasting “simple chances” in games that are already won may seem trivial, but in a tight race, those moments can accumulate into significance.

Liverpool’s goal difference currently stands at +7, compared to Manchester United’s +11 and Chelsea’s +17 . Converting opportunities—even in matches already secured—is not optional; it’s essential.

## The Warning for What Comes Next

Warnock’s critique serves as more than post-match analysis; it’s a warning for the fixtures ahead. Liverpool face a run of games that will define their season. The margins for error shrink with every passing week.

If a player cannot convert “simple chances” against a relegation-threatened West Ham, how can he be trusted in a Champions League knockout tie or a top-four six-pointer? If technical execution fails when the pressure is minimal, what happens when the stakes multiply?

These are the questions Warnock’s words implicitly pose. They are questions that Arne Slot must now consider as he selects his lineups for the crucial weeks ahead.

## The Verdict: A Moment That Defines More Than a Match

**”That is a shank. He shins it and he gets it so wrong. It was a simple chance for him, I can’t believe he missed.”**

Stephen Warnock’s words will follow the player in question for the remainder of the season. Every touch, every shot, every opportunity will be viewed through this lens. The “inexcusable” miss has become part of his narrative, a reference point for those who question his reliability.

For Liverpool, the 5-2 victory was emphatic, dominant, and significant. Three points secured, pressure applied, momentum maintained. But beneath the surface of that success lies a concern that Warnock has exposed: a player whose “horror moment” threatens to define his contribution more than any goal he might score.

The attacker will hope for redemption in the next fixture, for a chance to replace the memory of the “shank” with something cleaner, more convincing. But in the unforgiving arena of Premier League football, moments like these linger. They become the evidence cited when questions are asked, the proof offered when judgments are made.

Stephen Warnock has delivered his verdict. The football world has heard it. And at Liverpool, a player now carries the weight of a miss that should never have happened. 😤🔴⚡