11 February 2023 , 22:30
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Christmas means so much to Cody Gakpo that Liverpool’s £40million move for the Dutchman had to wait until Boxing Day.
Gakpo, 23, is such a devout Christian that he organised bible classes for team-mates during Holland’s World Cup campaign.
He knew all about Jurgen Klopp’s plans to hijack Manchester United ’s interest in taking him to Old Trafford in January as the festive season approached. But he remained steadfast in his belief that December 25 should be a day to share with family and friends rather than thinking about where his future would lie beyond PSV Eindhoven.
“I heard about Liverpool ’s interest - and I think five days later the deal was done,” said the elegant 6ft 4ins forward ahead of his first taste of the Merseyside derby.
“My manager and brother knew about it for a longer time, but I said to them at the World Cup not to tell me anything because I have to focus. As soon as I heard about the interest, the feeling was ‘come on, let's go.’
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“You have a second Christmas Day? Boxing Day, right? I was with the family - including nieces and aunties - and I was getting calls all the time about Liverpool.
“But on Christmas Day, I was not on my phone. That is a very important day so the phone was away. It was the very next day that it happened.”
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Gakpo opted to link up with Jurgen Klopp by agreeing a move to Liverpool (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Gakpo’s technique is obvious - he scored with both feet and his head during Holland’s three group games in Qatar. But he also possesses a temperament that Erik ten Hag was desperate to take to Old Trafford before Jurgen Klopp stepped in with an offer he just couldn’t refuse.
Klopp and Kop colossus Virgil van Dijk launched a charm offensive to persuade Gakpo to move to Merseyside. PSV Eindhoven coach, the former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, wanted him to follow in his footsteps by going to Manchester.
But Gakpo, who captained PSV at the age of 21 and last season won the Dutch footballer of the year award, is his own man. Dad Jonny played at senior level in his native Togo, while mum Ank represented the Netherlands at rugby.
Gakpo said: “I understand why Ruud said that and, to be honest, I spoke to him a lot about United in the summer when the transfer looked like it may be coming.
“But in the winter, not really. It was Ruud’s wish that I went to a big club - and I think I have achieved that with Liverpool.
“There was a lot of speculation in the summer. It was the first window where it was possible to move and so, yes, it affected me a little bit.
Cody Gakpo was coached by Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven (Soccrates/Getty Images)“But then there was one moment when I just said ‘forget about it, play your best game, and maybe it will happen next summer or in the winter.’ That’s what I tried to do and it went well.”
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The visit of Everton to Anfield gives Gakpo the chance to score his first Liverpool goal at the first time of asking. He has come into a team struggling to find the form that has made them a force at home and abroad for the last five years.
Gakpo said: “The guys who say it doesn’t affect them when they don’t score are lying.
“I am an attacking player so, of course, I like to score goals or give assists - and I also like to win. I am just trying to improve my game and fit how I play into how the team plays. If I can do that, the rest will follow.
“Virgil has told me about the derby and said it’s going to be a big fight. He also told me he scored his first goal against Everton - and now I hope for exactly the same.”