In our latest ‘A Day With…’ video feature, Merseyside native Cody Gakpo discusses his upbringing, football idols, and family history.

We recently spent a day with the Liverpool forward to learn more about his transition to life at the club after signing with them in January.

Gakpo walks host Rubi Deschamps through his daily rituals on the way to training, and we get a front-row seat to his interactions with his teammates at the AXA Training Centre, where we learn the moniker one of them has given him.

The Dutchman then travels to the Baltic Triangle, where he expresses his gratitude to the city’s Reds fans and expresses his hope for further trophy success in his adopted home.

“You can always hear them and feel the support they give, whether you’re playing at home or away, and it’s always positive,” the No. 18 says of the fans. Because you care about them so much, you’re willing to take things to the next level and fight for them as well. It’s a team effort.

He continues, “Yeah, I was on vacation and everything, back home in the Netherlands and at one point I started missing to be here, because I really like it here.”

I’ve never won a prize while playing for Liverpool, but I assume it’s a little different than winning a prize with any other team.

Gakpo describes his early interest in football and the impact his father had on him as he began his path to a professional career in Eindhoven.

“Obviously where I’m from, we all support PSV, so then in the team we had Afellay, who played for PSV and played for Barcelona after, so everybody in the city wanted to be him,” he adds.

Then there were superstars like Messi, Ronaldo, and the rest. They were all motivations for me.

My father gave me a lot of training when I first started playing football. He used to constantly show me old videos of Maradona and Pele playing together since they were his heroes growing up. That’s how I first met them, and I agree that they’re all quite talented.