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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Stephen Killen

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo keeps pre-season promise with touching moment on holiday

Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo has been filmed giving food to children in Togo following international duty with Holland.

It was a disappointing stint with Oranje for the former PSV Eindhoven captain as he, alongside Reds defender Virgil van Dijk, suffered successive defeats to Croatia and Italy as their UEFA Nations League hopes were dashed. The straight losses heaped pressure on manager Ronald Koeman as he was dealt his fourth third disappointment after just four games since returning to the Dutch dugout.

Many Liverpool players have jetted off around the world with Gakpo's fellow countryman pictured with Liverpool rival Kevin de Bruyne in Monaco this week.

However, Gakpo has opted to do something different to his teammates but the plans have been in place for a long time.

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Footage emerged on the social media platform TikTok of the 24-year-old in West African nation and in another video published by ESPN NL shows the Liverpool forward distributing food to children.

The outlet claims Gakpo immediately boarded a plan following Holland's defeat in the Nations League bronze medal match to Italy. He was approached by the Togolese national team, a country where is mother comes from and where he was born in 1999, but he opted to pledge his allegiance to Holland.

His family still live in Togo and speaking to Elf Voetbal, he expressed his desire to return to the country. He said: "My older brother has been to Togo, just like my younger brother. Just not me yet.

"A visit to Togo is still very high on my bucket list. But [finding] the time… It is difficult for a footballer, especially for an international, to plan a longer holiday.

"I'd like to go. Maybe skip Ibiza in the summer, haha."

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