“We could not have a better fixture with which to resume our Premier League campaign. After a longer gap than usual between league matches, we are all really looking forward to this game, a big and important test for us against the league leaders,” van Dijk wrote.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has described Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City as a “big challenge” that his side will relish, with the former champions set to resume their campaign after the international break at Anfield. In his column in the matchday programme, van Dijk said the fixture against the league leaders would provide an important test for Liverpool as they continue to develop as a team and seek greater consistency in their performances.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are seventh in the standings with nine points from five games, having recorded two wins and three draws. City’s Erling Haaland has scored five league goals this season, while Liverpool forward Alexander Isak has netted four. Manchester City are also dealing with an unresolved legal dispute concerning alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. The club has denied wrongdoing, while proceedings, including an appeal against findings by an independent commission, remain unresolved.
Manchester City arrive at Anfield as the only team to have won all five of their opening Premier League matches in the 2026-27 season. The encounter will also be the first Premier League meeting between the two clubs without Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola in the dugout since March 2015.
Van Dijk said Liverpool must uphold the standards expected of the club and urged his teammates to demonstrate commitment and togetherness in front of their home supporters.
“We stuck together, we defended well as a team, and we worked extremely hard to secure the three points in what is always a really tough away game,” he said. He acknowledged the quality of Manchester City’s squad and said Liverpool would need to perform at their best to secure a positive result against the visitors.
