Erling Haaland shares what he’s been hearing about Virgil van Dijk ahead of Liverpool vs Man City

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City this weekend is all set up to be a classic encounter.

With the teams separated by a just a point at the top of the Premier League, there’s a heck of a lot riding on the outcome. There’ll still be 10 games left to play once the final whistle goes, but it feels like a huge moment in the season.

Home advantage will give Liverpool confidence heading into the match, but City are always just about favourites. With Erling Haaland on the pitch and in good form, they’re always an enormous goal threat.

Thankfully, the Reds have a certain Virgil van Dijk to help keep him in check. And the Liverpool captain was the topic of discussion when TNT Sports sat down with Haaland ahead of Sunday’s game.

“I think he’s the main guy in Liverpool and I said it for many years, he’s unreal,” raved the 23-year-old. “I also heard he’s a really nice guy as well so that helps.

“He’s a monster. I like to play against players like him because then you really test yourself. What can I say, it’s going to be a nice game.”

Van Dijk set for Haaland battle

After Ibrahima Konate was injured during last night’s game against Sparta Prague, Van Dijk’s presence on Sunday has taken on even greater importance.

Konate and his centre-back partner would have been looking forward to testing themselves against Haaland. Instead, it seems likely that Joe Gomez will step in for Ibou.

Either way, Van Dijk is – as always – going to be the main man at the back for Liverpool. Jamie Carragher has argued this morning that Liverpool would not even be in the title race at all were it not for their No.4. That’s how much he means to this team.

Ironically, it’s probable that Haaland will try and spend most of his time playing on Gomez, or whoever ends up partnering Virgil. He’ll deduce that he can get more change out of them. Liverpool’s captain will make life as hard as the Norwegian has had it.

But the heavyweight pair will still clash. In the past, they’ve both done well out of these battles and have praised each other in the process.

As Haaland says, you want to test yourself against the best. Van Dijk will also be relishing the chance to get one over on the Premier League’s top scorer.

If he can do that, then Liverpool will have a much better chance of winning Sunday’s game. Should Haaland bring his A-game though, and not many can keep him and City quiet.

There’s lots of mutual respect here for now, but when the first big challenge goes in at Anfield, that will likely fly out of the window. Into him, Virg!