Virgil van Dijk names two teams as Liverpool's toughest to face - 'You get punished'

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has named the Reds' toughest opponents as Arne Slot's side look to continue their impressive start to the season

Virgil van Dijk has heaped praise on Manchester City and Arsenal as Liverpool prepare for another three-way title race.

The defender has been ever-present for Arne Slot’s first nine league games in charge, with the Reds sitting one point behind leaders Manchester City. Chasing Pep Guardiola’s side is far from unfamiliar territory for Liverpool, who won the league in 2020 but have twice been denied the Premier League crown by City despite earning more than 90 points.

Those impeccable standards have set a higher bar for title contenders. Unlike the battles between Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, a draw for Liverpool or City was seen as disappointing and helped forge a new rivalry.

Arsenal’s evolution under Mikel Arteta saw a three-way title race develop last season until Jurgen Klopp’s side tailed off. However, Van Dijk admitted to Rio Ferdinand that the changing landscape at the top of the league helps bring the best out of him.

On the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Van Dijk was asked about his toughest opponents and named Liverpool’s two closest title rivals. “I would say in this case then the City and Arsenal, especially from last year, it's always tough against them,” he said.

“You know that if you're not focused for a second or slip up or whatever, you could get punished immediately.

“But that's the beauty of the Premier League anyway, you play against good strikers week in, week out, and then you have this year's Champions League back again. It's only something I really enjoy and it keeps me on my toes. I love it.”

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Liverpool win the Premier League this season? Tell us in the comments section below

Many fans may have expected Van Dijk to name City striker Erling Haaland as his most difficult test, but both Arsenal and City’s multi-faceted frontlines mean that teams are unable to focus on just one player. Bukayo Saka’s opener for Arsenal against Liverpool last weekend was a prime example, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville criticising Van Dijk for not helping out left-back Andy Robertson.

Last season, the Reds finished nine points behind champions City, winning three of their last eight league games as they fell away from top spot. Liverpool have made a promising start under new manager Slot. Still, all three teams expected to battle for the title have already displayed vulnerabilities, with the Reds notably coming unstuck against Nottingham Forest.

City have conceded the first goal in four of their nine games and look slightly weaker at the back. Meanwhile, a string of suspensions and injuries have left Arsenal three points behind Liverpool, creating an intriguing title race.

Listen to the full Rio Meets Virgil interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, presented by Qatar Airways.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.