Although greater challenges will lie ahead for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp’s side may well have been wary of the threat Manchester United posed this afternoon; in terms of the heated rivalry, if nothing else.
In the end, a 3-1 win to the Premier League’s table-toppers could have been an awful lot more as Liverpool further emphasised their position as legitimate challengers to Manchester City’s title.
Speaking to Off the Ball in the immediate aftermath of a convincing win, Virgil van Dijk insisted his side hold no fear of Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut.
“Manchester City is a fantastic team,” van Dijk stated.
“They show it last season, they show it this season, [but] we want to win all of our games.”
One of the outstanding performers in Klopp’s side, club legend Graeme Souness revealed in an interview on The Keith Andrews Show during the week that he believes van Dijk may already be measured alongside the likes of Alan Hansen.
A terrifically successful centre-half during Liverpool’s hey-day, van Dijk doesn’t necessarily believe that comparisons with Hansen are too far wide of the mark.
Analysing his performances with the club thus far, the Dutch defender is of the opinion that things can yet get better.
“I’m not at my peak,” van Dijk suggested.
“I still have things to improve, I still feel like I have things to improve, but, everyone can have their opinion.
“It is better than if they are going to kill you and make you out to be a player who can’t do anything.
“For me, I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing.”
Determined to help Liverpool become more than just challengers to Manchester City in this season’s Premier League run-in, attention will now turn swiftly toward the team’s next match against Wolves on Friday night.
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