Virgil van Dijk is looking forward to the challenge of Atletico Madrid as Liverpool look to build on their positive start in the Champions League.

The Reds head to Estadio Metropolitano sitting top of Group B after a pair of fixtures, two points clear of Tuesday's opponents.

The No.4 previewed the encounter in Madrid when he attended a press conference on Monday afternoon – read on for the best bits of the briefing...

On the form of Mohamed Salah, whether he is the best player in the world and his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or...

He's doing pretty well at the moment, so let's say it in that way. He's an incredible football player and he's been showing it already for the last couple of seasons consistently. The numbers speak for themselves, so I can only say that we are very, very happy that he's in the form he's in. He is definitely up there. It's everyone's opinion. We, as players, know as well that one week you can be one of the best players in the world, and then the next week people can try to put you down. We are just very appreciative of what he's doing. We know the quality he has, we know the difficulties he can give opponents. Obviously he is doing it pretty well.

On his own fitness and sharpness so far…

I'm still on the way. It's still everyone's opinion and I know there's a lot of eyes pointing in my direction, [saying], 'Is he going to be back the same way?' and stuff. The only thing I can do is try my best in each and every game – which is what I do. I feel like I'm improving. Everyone knows how difficult it is to come back from a knee injury, and I don't think there's a lot of examples of players who have had an ACL and a complex knee injury that is back to his best after a year. I have work to do but the thing is I don't think about what others really have to say or judge. I want to be as good as I can for the team I play for, for the fans and, in my case, the country I play for. The only thing to get there is to play games, get better, get more confident in the things that you do, get back to normal things. So far it's going the right way and I'm feeling fine. There's always room for improvement.

On the tie in Madrid and whether Liverpool's loss to the Spanish outfit in 2019-20 gives them added motivation...

We don't need any extra motivation. We are playing in the Champions League, the most prestigious cup in Europe. The boys worked hard for it last year to make sure that we play Champions League. We just want to go out there and show our qualities. The only thing we will use from the game that we played last time is to analyse them. We don't need extra motivation. We know how tough it's going to be and we have to be very good to get a good result. We are looking forward to it. A full stadium again, so it's always a good feeling to be out there. For me especially, I enjoy every bit of it.

On how much confidence this season's form has given the team...

Obviously the results have been positive, and that's what we all hoped for and strived for as well – and that's how we look at games. If you look at our games, there are still a lot of moments that we can improve and we want to improve. That will be the same tomorrow. As I said before, we have to be at our best to get a good result, that's what we all hope for. We will work for [it] as well. So, enjoy the moment but don't take it for granted and just look at what's ahead of us, instead of looking at the longer term.

On the squad's reaction to Salah's goal at the weekend...

We know what he's capable of. I think he's been showing that for a longer period of time. The numbers speak for themselves. He is a fantastic player. If you look at our team as well, we have such a great team and players. If you look at the game at Watford, Sadio scored his 100th Premier League goal – we should talk about that a little bit more, in my opinion, as well. It's not something that's normal, in my opinion. Obviously Bobby coming in after such a long time, a difficult time and scored a hat-trick. We have a fantastic squad, a good group of players, boys that want to give everything for each other. To see them all shine is something that satisfies us. It helps us, of course, but we all have a job to do and everyone knows their responsibility, and Mo scoring goals is one big one.

On it being exactly 12 months since the diagnosis about his knee injury… 

It's a year ago but I'm just happy where I am today, and that's how I look at it. I'm playing on the highest level again, I'm playing with a lot of joy. Obviously we are working hard to get good results and so far we have been getting good results. There's still a lot to improve, and for me personally still a lot to improve as well. The only thing I can do is take it day by day. I said it in previous interviews as well, I'm not a robot. I came back from a very serious knee injury. But I know there are a lot of eyes pointed in my direction and will be. There was already before but now even more, but it's something that I'm not thinking of. I'm the biggest critic of myself and I know exactly when I can do things better – when things go well obviously, too. But how I see it is just to improve as good as I can. So far, so good, and I'm very confident in the way I see things, too.