Erling Haaland says that Liverpool have a player who’s ‘just unreal’

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Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland has named Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk as his most difficult opponent of the season.

Haaland has had a ridiculously good first yeear in England, breaking all sorts of records and standing on the verge of an historic treble. But he still wasn’t able to get the better of Van Dijk in two games against the Dutchman.

So, asked by Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport’s Between the Lines show who he found it toughest going against, it was an easy choice for Erling.

“The most difficult, we struggled at Anfield I remember, Van Dijk, I always said it, I think he’s so good,” raved the 22-year-old. “But the good thing also about it is that I’m meeting Ruben Dias, Akanji, Ake in training every single day, so training is not easy as well and that’s a really good thing.

“I think so [Van Dijk was the most difficult], he was so good, of course. Madrid away was also really difficult, I had two men against me all the time so it’s not easy. But Van Dijk, I like him a lot, I’ve played a lot against him and he’s really good. He’s smart, fast and in the air he’s just unreal as well.”

Haaland sends Van Dijk reminder

This isn’t the first time Haaland has been full of praise for Van Dijk. The two players seem to have a real mutual respect for each other’s game.

Obviously, this season has been Haaland’s. His scoring record for City is absurdly good and in terms of silverware it’s a non-contest, irrespective of the result in tomorrow’s Champions League final.

Knowing Virgil’s appetite to be the very best in his field, he’ll want to correct that next season.

It wasn’t the Dutchman’s best year all-round. Although he did appear to raise his game in the win over City at Anfield and a few other matches besides, he was generally lacklustre.

Next season, Van Dijk will be keen to remind everyone that he’s still got it. If he can raise his game to the levels we’ve seen previously, Liverpool will be right up there again.

Part of that will include trying to stop Haaland and City. Ever the big game player, Van Dijk will relish that challenge during 23/24.

After some have been highly critical of him over the last year – including the ever-vocal Ferdinand – this was nice reminder from the world’s top striker that Liverpool still have the very best in the business.