Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo strike in 4-0 international rout for Netherlands

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Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo, alongside Aston Villa ace Donyell Malen, were among the goals as Premier League stars helped their Netherlands side ease past Finland in a World Cup qualification match.

Donyell Malen scored the first of the game in the 8th minute, with the Aston Villa star, who’s recently found form, curling one in neatly with his right foot after some brilliant work from Justin Kluivert and Memphis Depay.

Then it was Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk’s turn to get on the scoresheet. Depay’s cross from a free-kick routine found the towering Dutchman, who neatly dispatched his header past the Finnish goalkeeper.

Former Manchester United man Depay, who already had two assists, then got a goal of his own. A penalty was awarded for handball, which the Netherlands’ top scorer ever neatly dispatched with aplomb.

Cody Gakpo finished off the rout in the 84th minute, with the Liverpool winger linking up with Tottenham’s Xavi Simons before scoring a screamer that nestled in the top-left corner.

Other Premier League superstars such as Ryan Gravenberch, Micky van de Ven, Jurrien Timber, and Tijjani Reijnders also featured.

Virgil van Dijk immense for Netherlands

Van Dijk has had critics this season, but he once again showed that class is permanent for his country.

He looked cultured throughout and even could have scored twice after seeing a well-taken volley in the first half cannon off the crossbar.

The Netherlands are now just one point away from immediate World Cup qualification, but it does look all but certain after an extremely favourable goal difference over Poland in their group.