InterviewVirgil van Dijk on Man City: 'A special one and we need everyone at their best'
Virgil van Dijk stressed the need for everyone associated with Liverpool to be at their absolute best when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds have now turned their focus back to Premier League matters after registering a confidence-boosting 7-1 win away at Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Van Dijk drew encouragement from the second-half display at Ibrox and hopes that can now be replicated throughout the meeting with the reigning champions in L4.
Inside Ibrox: Rangers 1-7 Liverpool from a unique perspective
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"I think it gives a lift," the No.4 told Liverpoolfc.com post-Rangers. "The thing is, it doesn't guarantee anything for Sunday but it's much better than losing here, for example, or having a draw here, especially when everyone expects you to win.
"So I think it was a great performance overall under the circumstances. I'm buzzing, you know, I'm buzzing about the result, the performance, especially the second half.
"Now it's time to recover and get ready for a special one on Sunday, where we need each one of us to be at our best."
Mohamed Salah scored the Champions League's fastest ever hat-trick after coming off the bench in the 68th minute in Glasgow.
Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino continued his fine goalscoring form with a double, and Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott netted their first goals in Europe for the club.
"These guys, they have so much quality," Van Dijk said of the forwards. "They have been showing it for the last four, five years.
"Obviously the last eight or nine games in – I don't know how many games we're in – things have not been going as great as everyone wants for almost everyone and confidence sometimes dropped down a bit.
"But I think [in the Rangers game] all of us showed the quality we have. For [Salah] to come on at the right time as well when they have to push a little bit more, the space will be more – it's beneficial for all of us."
Having had many memorable duels in recent seasons, Van Dijk is relishing the opportunity to face City once more.
Pep Guardiola's team currently sit second in the standings and possess the league's top scorer in Erling Haaland – but it's a challenge Van Djjk and his teammates look to embrace.
The centre-half finished: "It sounds cliché but these are the games you want to play.
"You play against the champions, you play against one of the best teams in Europe with probably the most in-form striker, with one of the best midfielders, in my opinion, in the world.
"So they have a great side, great manager and it's always been tough for both sides – it's not going to be anything different.
"So we should look forward to it. This [the win at Rangers] will definitely give a little boost – and it should give a little boost to all of us – that we can be very, very good."