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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Stephen Killen

What Virgil van Dijk told Cody Gakpo before scoring first goal for Liverpool against Everton

Cody Gakpo's prediction prior to the visit of Everton came true as he scored his first Liverpool goal in the Merseyside derby.

The Dutchman opened his Reds account against their city rivals - as his countryman Virgil van Dijk did in 2018 - by tapping home to make it 2-0 after Mohamed Salah had opened the scoring in the first half.

Gakpo was making his seventh start for Liverpool since his January transfer from PSV Eindhoven. He had failed to score in his first six.

LIVE: Liverpool vs Everton updates from the Merseyside derby at Anfield

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville blast Jordan Pickford for Liverpool opener against Everton

But speaking ahead of tonight's match, the 23-year-old expressed his hope to emulate Van Dijk, who scored the winner in a FA Cup third-round clash against the Blues after making the move from Southampton five years ago.

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."

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