Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo is approaching the second anniversary of his arrival at the club from PSV Eindhoven
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Cody Gakpo of Liverpool
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool(Image: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo admits Liverpool are "very lucky" to have Mohamed Salah among their ranks as the Egyptian continues to rack up the records. Salah moved up to fourth place ahead of Billy Liddell in the Reds' all-time goalscorer list with a brace in the 6-3 Premier League romp at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
The Egyptian had earlier in the game become the first player in Premier League history to reach double figures for both goals and assists in a season before Christmas Day by setting up a strike for Dominik Szoboszlai.
Salah later laid on Luis Diaz's second of the game and now has a remarkable 18 goals and 15 assists in just 24 appearances for Liverpool this term, with 15 of his goals coming in the top flight to make him the competition's leading scorer.
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And when asked to consider the continued impact of his 32-year-old team-mate, Gakpo said: "I don’t know what to say! It’s very special what we are all witnessing.
"The amount of goals he scores but the assists he gives as well, the way he plays the game, how he puts other attacking players or midfielders like myself in a position to score and to be dangerous is from a high level. I hope for us and for him that he can continue doing that for a long time.
"We are very lucky to have him and proud that we can be his team-mate and try to make him better. And he is trying to make us better as well."
Liverpool, who had drawn their previous two league games at Newcastle United and home to Fulham, will celebrate Christmas four points clear at the summit with a game in hand after second-placed Chelsea were held to a goalless draw at Everton earlier on Sunday.
And Gakpo admits that result made the Reds' win over Tottenham even more significant. "It was a must-win as well after two draws, also knowing that Chelsea had a draw made it more important as well, to open the gap a little bit," he said.
"The game in itself was also a big game, Tottenham away. We went there with full power. I think it was an enjoyable game to watch, lots of great things from our side and, at the end, a big result."
Liverpool resume on Boxing Day at home to Leicester City, who recently appointed Gakpo's former PSV Eindhoven boss Ruud van Nistelrooy as manager in succession to sacked ex-Reds Academy coach Steve Cooper.
"He was the striker coach for me when I was in the first team a little bit and also when I was in the academy," said the forward. "I learned a lot from him and I’m very grateful for all the lessons. He was also my head coach in the last half-season I was at PSV, so very grateful for all the lessons he taught me and it was an honour to get all those teachings from him."
Gakpo is approaching the second anniversary of his arrival at Liverpool having been signed from PSV for a deal that could eventually cost £44m. And speaking to liverpoolfc.com, he added: "I enjoy every minute I’m here. It has been a fantastic two years for myself.
“A lot of things happened obviously – a lot of good moments, some lesser-good moments but a lot of things that I’ve learned. I’m very happy to be here at the club, hopefully for many more years!
“I think now we are in a good place as a team and I’m very happy that I can contribute as well. We spoke about it the other day, some players thought I was here already way longer. But it has only been two years so hopefully a lot more years to come.”