LIVERPOOL defender Virgil van Dijk has hailed manager Jurgen Klopp’s ability as an all-round coach.
The Netherlands international only joined the Merseyside club in January for an eye-popping club-record £75million.
But has already been impressed by his new boss’s attention to detail and connection to the players.
Van Dijk said: “He is the complete manager. He is a fantastic team manager, player manager as well, everyone is working hard together.
“Obviously that [Klopp’s rapport with the crowd] stays more in people’s minds because that is what you see, but he is much more than that.
“You don’t see all the hard work we put in behind the scenes. He has shown already that he is an outstanding manager.”
Liverpool could be missing their 38-goal forward Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian suffering with fitness issues, but Van Dijk believes they can hold onto their 3-0 first-leg lead without him.
most read in football
The Dutchman added: “If we defend the way we did the other night against them, it does not matter who plays as a striker.
“If our players up front and midfield do what they did then it makes it a lot easier.
REDS ALERT Liverpool favourites to win the Champions League if they topple Man City as Pep Guardiola has only ever lost six knockout ties in the competition… and four of those teams lifted the trophy
“Obviously, they have a lot of quality no matter plays, and we need to be ready for anyone.”
Liverpool will be looking to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2008.
But they have already surrendered a three-goal lead in Europe this season, having led 3-0 at half-time against Sevilla during the group stages, only for the Spanish side to equalise late on.
Leave a comment