Virgil van Dijk has picked out his favourite memories against Manchester City ahead of Liverpool’s latest clash with their Premier League rivals.
The Reds host Pep Guardiola’s team at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, aiming to extend an eight-point advantage over the reigning champions.
Van Dijk has faced City 15 times since making the move to Merseyside in 2018, with his record showing six wins, five draws and four defeats.
Asked about his best memories of the fixture, the No.4 said: “Maybe the one that Mo [Salah] scored on the break, when Alisson [Becker] kicked it long and [Joao] Cancelo missed it [in October 2022]. I think that one was a good one.
“Or the home game where Fabinho scored that goal from distance [in November 2019].”
The centre-back has started 17 games so far in 2024-25 as Arne Slot’s men have failed to win just two of their 19 matches in all competitions.
On his approach to maintaining his top level at this stage of his career, Van Dijk said: “I think at any stage of any career, consistency is the most difficult thing – I would say in football now because we speak [about] football, but just in general.
“To make sure that you turn up each and every day at your best, and that people around you will always be able to rely on you, trust you. I think that’s the most difficult thing. Stay fit, do everything in your power in order to do that. Look after yourself in order to be ready for the games.
“Consistency is the most difficult thing in football. That’s what you have to try to aim for and I’m definitely trying to aim for that each and every day.”
Liverpool’s preparations for the visit of City come on the back of a satisfying midweek night at Anfield as Real Madrid were beaten 2-0 in the Champions League.
Amid an excellent team performance and individual displays across the park, Caoimhin Kelleher made a crucial penalty save from Kylian Mbappe when the Reds’ lead was just one goal.
“Obviously it is never easy I think to be a second goalkeeper, but obviously he has an amazing goalkeeper in front of him in terms of Alisson Becker. But when Caoimh has been playing he’s been outstanding,” Van Dijk said of the Republic of Ireland international.
“He’s been full of confidence as a goalkeeper, with and without the ball. It’s a joy to have him behind us when he plays.
“He has to just keep going; he is a good boy, he knows he has to stay calm and keep working, and that’s a very important thing.”
And on the importance of the whole squad consistently making contributions, the captain added: “Obviously it is down also to having not too many injuries, and we hope to keep it that way.
“Injuries obviously are unfortunately part of football, but as long as you don’t have many injuries you can sort of build momentum, you can rotate when needed of course and give everyone the opportunity.
“The guys that have been coming in and having the opportunities, they have been grabbing them with both hands.
“We have to keep going. It’s such a long season still, we need everyone at their best, in form but first and foremost fit and playing consistently.”