Virgil van Dijk sends Mohamed Salah warning to Nathan Ake ahead of Man City vs Liverpool

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk sent a warning to Manchester City ahead of the weekend’s Premier League clash.

City return to domestic duties this weekend, taking on Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Saturday in what has been one of the most fiercely contested contests of the last half-decade.

However, the Reds are not quite the force of last season. While this time last term Liverpool were on course to achieve an unprecedented quadruple, this campaign they are out of all three cup competitions and languishing in sixth in the table.

Though Klopp’s men are some seven points adrift of a Champions League place, City are some eight points behind their title challengers Arsenal, though have a game in hand.

Yet with just 11 league games to play, City have found some form. They entered the international break having put seven goals past RB Leipzig and beaten Burnley 6-0 in the FA Cup.

Indeed, should Pep Guardiola’s side enter the encounter at their best they are an ominous proposition for any side.

Van Dijk sends Salah warning to Ake

Van Dijk warned international teammate Nathan Ake that he would be lining up against Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on Saturday.

As per the Manchester Evening News, the 31-year-old said: “I am very close with Nathan, also in everyday life.

“We live close to each other, our families get along very well and we see each other every week. Nat has been in a good flow all year but he is also modest.

“He is playing so well at the moment and is so important for our national team and Man City. He is achieving a very consistent level and people do not realise that is the hardest thing for a footballer to do.

“I am happy for him because I see what’s going on behind the scenes and how much he’s put in for it. On Saturday, he will probably be up against Mohamed Salah and hopefully, we can get a good result.

“When the whistle blows, it’s battle and a war on the pitch. After that, we pick up the friendship again and there are more important things in life than football.”

Topics: Nathan Ake, Virgil Van Dijk, Liverpool, Manchester City, Mohamed Salah, Premier League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.