Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo swapped occasion islands for charity work in Togo this summer time, spends his spare time studying the bible and divulges how he is already lacking ‘huge brother’ Jordan Henderson

Cody Gakpo is completely different from most modern-day footballers. Whereas his team-mates busied themselves on the in a single day flight to Singapore with intense Netflix crime dramas, hip hop music or Sweet Crush with Diogo Jota, the Dutchman spent some high quality time studying the Bible.

In a straw ballot of Liverpool gamers’ ‘sound of the summer time’, the choices ranged from Virgil Van Dijk’s nod to Travis Scott and Drake’s Meltdown, to Andy Robertson’s love of Neil Diamond and Mo Salah’s favorite Eminem tune Lose Your self – however Gakpo most well-liked ‘gospel music’.

Gakpo has all the time had a spiritual outlook on life however that has strengthened up to now few years, a interval which noticed him change into Netherlands’ poster-boy on the World Cup after which earn a change to Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven final winter.

‘Not solely in my profession, faith helps my complete life,’ says Gakpo, who Mail Sport meets in a lodge room within the clouds with a view of Singapore’s idyllic and futuristic skyline. ‘It’s a life-style for me. I take the Bible with me in all places and day-after-day, within the UK or wherever else.

‘I converse to individuals about it day-after-day, all the time making an attempt to study from it. My household is non secular. For 4 years or one thing now I have been actually making an attempt to become familiar with it.

Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo has revealed how faith is a life-style for him

Gakpo says it is tough to resolve his greatest place and that he simply desires to assist the crew

‘I used to be all the time trying to find one thing. It’s about studying the right way to stay your life. There’s plenty of completely different passages I like.’

Gakpo’s down-to-earth and studious nature is refreshing and, at simply 24, the £44m charge paid for the Eindhoven-born ahead may very well be a cut price. In his seven months on Merseyside, Gakpo has performed as a winger, led the road as a No 9 and confirmed his creativity from midfield.

It’s that versatility that Jurgen Klopp loves, with each summer time signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister additionally earmarked as gamers that may play in plenty of roles.

Requested on his favorite place, Gakpo laughs and replies: ‘Simply to play! There are variations and it’s a must to change some issues, go deeper and defend extra. You get the ball from the central defenders when in midfield… as a striker you’ll be able to’t drop that far.

‘It’s tough (to choose my greatest place), it is dependent upon the sport or opponent. I similar to to be able to get on the ball lots. I like to hold from the midfield to the assault. I simply wish to get plenty of targets and assists!’

Gakpo’s greatest good friend within the squad is compatriot Virgil Van Dijk, who is anticipated to be formally confirmed because the membership captain after the exit of Jordan Henderson. However the ahead, like a lot of his team-mates, remains to be coming to phrases with the actual fact ‘huge brother’ Henderson has departed.

‘Hendo was an actual captain inside and outdoors the sector,’ says Gakpo. ‘All the time there for everyone, a giant character, an instance for a way skilled gamers must be. I actually regarded as much as him.

‘I discovered lots from him. A very nice man, because the coach stated we’ll miss him. Jordan was all the time asking me how I used to be, if the place I used to be dwelling was OK. He was like a giant brother.

Gakpo says that he’s lacking ‘huge brother’ Jorfdan Henderson after his transfer to Al-Ettifaq

The ahead is loving the depth of pre-season and is getting used to life at Liverpool

Throughout the summer time Gakpo handed out meals to youngsters in his father’s homeland of Togo

‘It’s regular when gamers with a lot expertise go away that it’s a pity for the membership. However now there’s room for different gamers to face up (as leaders).’

Gakpo is getting used to life underneath Klopp and smirks as he tells Mail Sport his on-tour every day routine – ‘get up, prepare, breakfast, prepare, relaxation a bit, prepare,’ he says – however he’s loving the depth of pre-season. Saying that, although, he was grateful for a relaxation throughout the summer time.

He performed 60 video games final time period for PSV, Liverpool and the Netherlands, which included that dramatic semi-final defeat to Argentina on the World Cup. He says Lionel Messi was his childhood hero however he has not mentioned that match with Argentine Mac Allister but.

So whereas many Premier League stars jetted off to occasion islands, Gakpo took a visit to his father’s homeland of Togo to recharge and provides again to the group throughout the low season.

‘It was my first time over there,’ he says. ‘It was superb, a very nice expertise to see plenty of household.

‘My household does some charity work there so I helped. It is very important assist, to present again as a lot as I can.’

Now the ahead is simply trying ahead. He scored 20 targets and assisted 20 extra in membership soccer final time period – together with a brace within the 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United – however it was a disappointing 12 months for Liverpool, ending fifth and never profitable a trophy.

On his aspirations for the brand new marketing campaign, Gakpo merely provides: ‘To overlook about final season. To return to profitable trophies once more. That’s the plan, all people is on board. Everyone desires to place it proper.’

The 24-year-old expressed his need to assist Liverpool win trophies this season