Liverpool and Manchester City continue to lock horns but this season saw their star striker come up against Liverpool stalwart Virgil van Dijk.
Erling Haaland continues to lavish praise on Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk as the runaway Premier League golden boot winner names the Dutchman as his toughest opponent.
The centre-back has been dubbed as one of the most important signings since Jurgen Klopp took over at Anfield as his arrival from Southampton was one of the catalysts for the successful run that the Reds went on. Since arriving, he has added the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Club, Club World Cup and England’s domestic double.
Haaland arrived from Borussia Dortmund to City in the summer with a fierce reputation. The Citizens goal-getter lived up to the expectation as he shattered the goalscoring record in the Premier League but failed to get the better of the Reds defender during their Premier League meetings.
“There’s many good defenders. I have to say, Liverpool’s Van Dijk is so good,” the forward told Optus Sports. “I’ve met him many times with [the] national team, played in Salzburg, met him, he’s really good. That’s who I can think of right now.”
It isn’t the first time that the Norwegian has heaped praise on the towering defender. Both Van Dijk and Haaland locked horns during the 2019 Champions League group stage while at Red Bull Salzburg.
“You know how tall he is, how strong he is and how fast he is, and also the timing is crazy,” he told ESPN in 2022. “I don’t think I won one duel against him because he’s a physical monster.”
The 31-year-old spoke equally glowingly about the attacker, as Van Dijk said: “Haaland is a special striker. He’s so strong, he’s quick, he’s got all the attributes to make a defender’s life very difficult.
“The first time [I played him] was when he came on at Anfield. He was at Salzburg and he got a tap-in and he scored. Obviously in the away game he didn’t. He got subbed after 65 minutes or something but it was a very tough one, he was very quick, aggressive, very direct.”
Source: iverpoolecho
