Virgil van Dijk sends 'problem' message to Erling Haaland before 'massive' Liverpool vs Man City

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has become the latest to discuss the upcoming clash with Manchester City. It adds to an ongoing clamor around the fixture.

Vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold caused a major stir in an interview with FourFourTwo. Claiming that trophies mean more to the Liverpool players and fans, he successfully riled up multiple members of the Manchester City squad, with Erling Haaland and Rúben Dias both giving prickly responses before Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn on the topic.

But the exchange between Haaland and Van Dijk has been marked by great mutual respect. The Manchester City marksman told TNT Sports that the Dutchman is 'unreal', and that he looks forward to 'testing himself' against him at Anfield.

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Van Dijk has been similarly complimentary. Speaking about Haaland (PA, via the ECHO), he hailed a 'natural goalscorer':

"It's obviously going to be a massive game for both sides and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of facing the treble winners," Van Dijk said. "It's always good to come up against one of the best and most in-form strikers in the world.

"He is a natural goalscorer, he has proven it and his numbers are speaking for themselves so it will be a tough afternoon but it's a battle I am looking forward to."

That more or less echoed Haaland's own sentiment. And Van Dijk conceded that the forward had caused him problems in the past:

"Of course. I've caused him problems, he's caused me problems, that's how it works. These battles are always tough. But like I said I think he is looking forward to it and I'm looking forward to it."

It's certainly got the potential to be one of the defining head-to-head battles of the contest. But will the match itself be a defining moment in the title race? Van Dijk conceded it is a 'massive' game, but played down the stakes a little.

"There's too long to go. Obviously it is a massive game, you can't deny that.

"There will be a lot of eyes on it but we have one aim and that's to try to win the game. We are at home and we are looking forward to the big challenge but the big opportunity as well."

Liverpool.com says: It's clear that Van Dijk and Haaland have huge respect for each other. That says it all about their respective levels: both are among the very best in the world in their positions.

Here's hoping Van Dijk can come out on top on Sunday. It remains to be seen who will be helping him in this regard in the heart of the Liverpool defense, with Ibrahima Konaté coming off injured against Sparta Praha on Thursday.