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Gakpo scored two penalties and provided an assist for Tijjani Reijnders as the Dutch won 4-0 in Malta to move three points clear of Poland in their qualifying group with three games to play.The Liverpool man became the first player to score a brace of spot-kicks in a Holland game since Rob Rensenbrink did likewise against Iran in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.And afterwards Gakpo said: "I heard it immediately after the match, but I don't think it's that special.READ MORE: Malick Fofana agent makes Liverpool transfer admission - 'This is the season'"Penalties just have to go in, for myself and especially for the team. At Liverpool, Mo (Salah) takes them and for the Dutch national team I'm not the first pick either."Former Manchester United forward Wout Weghorst admitted afterwards he "really wanted to take" the spot-kicks, and Gakpo said: "To be honest, we didn't know what the agreement was before today."It was between Wout and me.
We talked about it, and I both took them. But I wanted to take responsibility."Speaking to Voetbal International, Gakpo was also asked about Liverpool's form having lost successive games at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea ahead of the international break."That's something we rarely experience," he said.
Everybody could see the difficulties we had for 60 minutes, but the last half-hour we put them under pressure and when the chances came we took them."We stuck together and kept believing we could cause them problems. But we're not stupid - we need to do better."Academy winger Kieran Morrison made his debut for Northern Ireland under-21s as a late substitute in their 2-0 win over Malta in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier.Meanwhile, reports in Egypt have stated Mohamed Salah will be rested for his country's final World Cup qualifier against Guinea-Bissau on Sunday, having scored twice on Wednesday in the Pharaohs' 3-0 win against Djibouti that sealed their place in the finals next summer.Liverpool return after the international break on Sunday week when they host bitter North West rivals Manchester United in the Premier League.