NewsCody Gakpo on 'big brother' Van Dijk and most important goal so far

The Netherlands international teammates became club colleagues in January when Gakpo sealed a move to the Reds from PSV Eindhoven.

And during a joint interview the pair gave to Premier League Productions, the No.18 detailed his gratitude to Van Dijk for the support offered since he moved to Anfield.

“He’s helping me, he’s guiding me, I have to say. I don’t think I said it even to him yet but I’m really grateful,” said Gakpo, who has scored six times for the club so far.

“He’s like a big brother here to me. From the day I first arrived he’s helping me with everything outside the pitch and inside the pitch. I’m really grateful for that.

“Hopefully we can have some really good moments together.”

Gakpo’s most recent goal was a precise, long-range finish at West Ham United last month that brought Liverpool back on level terms in the Premier League tie.

Joel Matip went on to head home the winner at London Stadium and secure the third victory in an ongoing run of seven for Jürgen Klopp’s men.

And asked for his favourite moment so far, Gakpo stated: “I think the most important one was the equaliser against West Ham because we were doing really well and we had to win this game.

“We [conceded] a goal and I scored a few minutes after so we were directly back in the game. I think this was one of the most important.”

Perhaps the finest of Gakpo’s strikes for the Reds to date, though, was his second in the 7-0 rout of Manchester United at Anfield in March.

The 24-year-old deftly dinked in a finish from a narrow angle at the conclusion of a flowing move from one end to the other that he helped to orchestrate.

“You don’t really practise exactly this run and the ball and the goal, but it just came up and maybe I saw somewhere before that from this angle you can also chip,” he recalled of the effort.

“It’s just a quick moment to decide and just follow your instinct.”