Cody Gakpo helped fire Holland a step nearer the World Cup by achieving a feat not seen in 47 years - and then declared Liverpool are "not too worried" about their recent run of defeats. 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.

"Penalties just have to go in, for myself and especially for the team. I've missed one penalty in my career, that was with PSV against FC Copenhagen, and since then I've made them all.

"I'm not the first pick. 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,...