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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Caoimhe O'Neill

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk sounds warning to Premier League rivals and recognises Ballon d'Or talk

Virgil van Dijk has issued a warning to Liverpool's Premier League rivals following the international break.

Newcastle United will visit Anfield this weekend and the Dutch skipper is focused on extending the Reds' unbeaten run.

Van Dijk captained the Netherlands to two impressive wins over Germany and Estonia in the Euro 2020 qualifying ties this week.

And when asked about Liverpool's winning start to the season, the 28-year-old admitted: "We want to keep going - and we want to win every game that is ahead of us now.

"There are seven games before the next international break. We want to win any match, and so seven wins is the target. That’s what we have to try and do.

"It is very hard to say whether the same points total as last season would be enough this time. If you win your games, that is the only way to think.

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"We know exactly how good Manchester City will be in the Premier League again this season," Van Dijk continued.

"But there also the other competitions where we can look to have success. The next few weeks we will be playing Saturday/Tuesday almost all the time.

"And there are some tough games. We have Chelsea away, and Napoli away in Europe. The League Cup is never easy.

"So we know how tough it is going to be, both this next period and the rest of the season. But we have the mentality and the players to win every game ahead of us.

"It has been a good week, picking up the full complement of six points. And now my focus is on recovery and being ready for Newcastle on Saturday."

The Champions League winner is the current favourite to win the Ballon d'Or and would become the first defender since 2006 to be awarded the prestigious accolade.

He added: "I was very proud to win both the UEFA and PFA awards.

"I knew Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to win the UEFA one, and that was a long time ago.

"There will always be lots of opinions on who is named the best player and whether it is a defender or a more attacking player. I am just very proud they chose me."

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