Virgil van Dijk has admitted that he will put his friendship with Manchester City defender Nathan Ake to one side when Liverpool visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
The Netherlands internationals have become very close friends on and off the pitch in recent years, not least because they both reside in the Cheshire countryside. The pair of them have been among the Premier League's best defenders in recent years and also started alongside each other in each of the Netherlands' five World Cup matches in Qatar at the end of last year.
They, too, also started the Netherlands' 4-0 defeat to France last Friday evening and Monday's 3-0 win over Gibraltar, in which Ake scored an unlikely brace to help Ronald Koeman's side record their first win of their European Championship qualifying campaign. Although Van Dijk celebrated both of those goals, and is a huge fan and friend of his international colleague, he will putting his friendship with him aside when City and Liverpool go toe-to-toe this weekend.
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"I am very close with Nathan, also in everyday life," said Van Dijk. "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."
While City will head into the contest looking to cut the gap on current table-toppers Arsenal to five points, Liverpool will make the short trip to M11 looking to cut the gap on the Champions League places. They are currently seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and face City, Chelsea and Arsenal in what could be a defining week in their season.
"I am going to recover in the next few days and then the focus will be on City," added Van Dijk. "We are now in two very different situations.
"Manchester City are fighting for the title and we hope to force Champions League football. With games against City, Chelsea and Arsenal, it will be an interesting week for us."
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