• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Pep Guardiola Couldn't Keep His Hands Of Virgil Van Dijk After Manchester City's 2-2 Draw With Liverpool

Home> Football

Updated 07:52 12 Apr 2022 GMT+1Published 07:44 12 Apr 2022 GMT+1

Pep Guardiola Couldn't Keep His Hands Of Virgil Van Dijk After Manchester City's 2-2 Draw With Liverpool

Pep Guardiola was beesotted with Virgil van Dijk after the classic encounter between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Pep Guardiola was utterly besotted with Virgil van Dijk after Manchester City and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The top two sides delivered another classic Premier League encounter played at a furious pace. It got tasty at times but the rivalry is largely respectful and saw Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp warmly embrace at the full-time whistle.

Guardiola also had a chat with Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold during the game.

But post-match, he also went out of his way to share a moment with Van Dijk, who had produced another strong defensive showing and made Raheem Sterling look like a little boy in the second half in one notable battle.

Advert

The Dutch defender was doing his TV interviews when Guardiola approached him.

Image: PA
Image: PA

The City boss held onto Van Dijk's hand for a very long time and appeared to say, 'You know what you did!' to the former Southampton man.


Advert

In response, Van Dijk said, "I know, I'll speak to him" - though it's not known exactly what the pair were in conversation about.

There was a polite pat on the shoulder from Van Dijk before Guardiola playfully slapped Liverpool's No.4 on the arm and allowed to speak to the media.

Guardiola was desperate to sign Van Dijk when he was at Southampton and a deal was said to be close in 2017.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Advert

However, they were put off by the price tag and ended up signing Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for £57 million.

Van Dijk would then sign for Liverpool in a £75 million switch, becoming the world's most expensive defender.

But he's more than justified his price tag, helping the Reds to the Champions League, Premier League and Carabao Cup courtesy of a series of imperious displays.

And in July 2020, Van Dijk admitted Klopp was a key factor in him moving to Anfield.

Advert

"I had the chance to go to Chelsea and Man City," Van Dijk said, as per the Manchester Evening News.

"When you compare the clubs, you look at the history, the town, the current squad, their plans for the near future.

“But the most important thing you look at is the manager – and Jurgen Klopp is an important reason why I chose for Liverpool.

“Klopp has something special. Is it his energy? Is it his overall image?

Advert

“I sometimes sit and think about what he does and what he has more than others.

“I think it is his man-management. These days that is more important than anything in football.

“Klopp gives you this great feeling. He is genuinely happy when you walk into the club in the morning."

After Sunday's gem of a game, City remain one point clear at the top of the table in an unbelievably competitive title race that is reminiscent of the 2018/19 season.

On that occasion City pipped Liverpool by a single point on the final day and lifted a second consecutive title.

Featured Image Credit: Image: Twitter

Topics: Manchester City, Virgil Van Dijk, Liverpool, Premier League, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    UEFA has banned 13 clubs from competing in the Europa League

    European football's governing body stopped the clubs from competing for different reasons.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    What Jobe Bellingham did immediately after scoring first Borussia Dortmund goal speaks volumes

    The Borussia Dortmund man scored his first goal for the club on Saturday evening.

    Football
  • 4 hours ago

    Marcus Rashford appears to drop biggest hint yet over next club as he takes part in YouTube Q&A video

    Rashford is expected to leave Manchester United this summer.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Antony turns down move to shock club as Man Utd winger makes decision on 'priority' destination

    The Brazilian spent last season on loan at Real Betis.

    Football
  • Virgil van Dijk delivers explosive interview on referee after Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Fulham
  • Liverpool draw up 'four-man shortlist' to replace Virgil van Dijk if he rejects contract offer
  • Virgil van Dijk gives worrying update on Liverpool future
  • Virgil van Dijk breaks silence on future as Liverpool 'make contract decision'