Virgil van Dijk insisted that Liverpool had enjoyed a great rivalry against Manchester City and that his feelings about it have not changed after their rivals were found guilty of 114 charges of breaching Premier League financial rules.
City were deemed to have inflated their income by more than £900m in a nine-year period, giving them a spending power which helped them twice pip Liverpool to the title by one point.
But Van Dijk, who was part of a Liverpool side who displaced Pep Guardiola’s side as champions in 2020 and who knocked them out of the Champions League in 2018, said the damning verdict on City and their era of dominance has not altered his own thoughts about their battles.
“No, because I really enjoyed our rivalry and it was a great rivalry on the pitch,” he said. “What happened off the pitch that is for others to find a conclusion on and then let’s see.”
City are appealing against the verdict and while Van Dijk believes it would not be clever for him to discuss it now, he hinted he will when there is some finality to the situation.
He added: “It’s still a little bit ongoing so I don’t think it’s smart for me to comment on it right now but when the verdict comes out I will definitely have my opinion and I will probably share it as well.”
City won 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday while their players were branded cheats in a series of chants and Van Dijk warned Enzo Maresca’s league leaders they can expect a similar reception at plenty of away games.
“I think everyone could hear it,” he said. “Everyone can share their feelings and I don’t think Anfield will be the only place where it will be the case because fans will have their feelings.”
The 35-year-old has played every minute of the Premier League and the Champions League this season, sitting out only the Carabao Cup win over Tottenham, and Liverpool have now started a run of four games in 10 days and nine in 29.
But Van Dijk will not ask manager Andoni Iraola for a rest, even though he is struggling with a calf problem.
“No. Do you think I want a rest?” he asked. “Everyone knows that everyone has to be ready and then we know 20 minutes before we go to Anfield we know the team. Obviously it’s not a given I’m starting but I’m doing everything in my power to be ready. I had a little knock in the end on my calf which is pretty painful so I’m going home to get some treatment to be ready for Wednesday.”