Press conferenceGakpo on Van Dijk and Gravenberch friendship: 'It's nice to have them here'

The Reds take on the Austrian Bundesliga side on matchday five in Europa League Group E at Anfield on Thursday night.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the fixture, Gakpo reflected on his friendships within the team, and his relationship in particular with compatriots Van Dijk and Gravenberch, who help provide some home comfort on Merseyside.

"Obviously it's nice to have them here and Virgil was already here before me," said the No.18, who is nearing a year with the club.

"It's nice we can speak Dutch, we get to know each other better and better. But it's not like we are a group within a group.

"We just can work together better maybe because we speak the same language. But we try to work together in everything and speak English."

Gravenberch's arrival on September's deadline day has provided competition in central midfield, an area where Gakpo has been deployed on occasions this season by Jürgen Klopp.

"I think he is a really good player, he is someone who is really good and comfortable with the ball," Gakpo said of the summer signing.

"[His] receiving is outstanding, and he can turn and run with the ball, he can play good passes as well."

Gakpo also discussed his battle for another position up front alongside fellow attacker Darwin Nunez, who has seven goals in all competitions this term.

"He is doing great and it's like a competition," he added. "But I think we both have to just keep working hard and being the [best] players we can be to help the team as much as we can."