Virgil van Dijk was happy with his Liverpool team-mates efforts against Real Madrid and challenged them to back up the performance against Manchester City in the Premier League
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk heaped praise on Dominik Szoboszlai and Conor Bradley
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has hailed Dominik Szoboszlai's form this season following the Reds' win over Real Madrid. The Dutch defender has offered a glowing assessment of the midfielder and challenged the Hungary international to produce again against Manchester City.
Szoboszlai has enjoyed a strong start to the season and provided a sterling assist for Alexis Mac Allister to score in the Champions League at Anfield. Arne Slot's side came away 1-0 victors over Xabi Alonso's men.
The 25-year-old has caught the eye despite Liverpool's up-and-down form this season and impressed in a variety of roles. Szoboszlai has shown the versatility to deputise at right-back and produced strong performances in deep and advanced midfield positions, while Slot has attempted to facilitate the likes of Florian Wirtz.
Van Dijk has been impressed with the energy his team-mate continues to bring and explained his importance. The Liverpool veteran believes Szoboszlai is beginning to fulfil his potential.
"What you see is what you get from Dom," Van Dijk said. "He is very important. The energy he brings on the pitch is incredible, the quality that he has is outstanding and like you said he is learning each and every game and he is developing into the player we all feel like he could be.
"He is already showing that for the country he is playing for and it is about keeping on doing it for the rest of the season. So far he has had a great start to the season and he has to keep going. Keep your head down and keep performing.
"It was a good game, a lot of hard work, good opportunities, defensively we were very solid and a great win. That’s it.
"After the first half against Palace [in the league] it was quite low as well, but we all know that you get an opportunity every three or four days to turn it around and we won tonight. It was a good performance and now we have to focus on Man City.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool gestures
Dominik Szoboszlai impressed Virgil van Dijk
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"It will be a similar game as tonight a little bit. We are facing a very in-form team like today and a striker, like today, who was in form. When that happens you have to be spot on and I think we showed we were good as a team defensively.
"We created good opportunities and they had a goalkeeper (Thibaut Courtois) that saved them a couple of times."
Van Dijk was also impressed by Conor Bradley after he kept Brazil international Vinicius Junior quiet on Tuesday evening. "Conor was very good. Outstanding," he added.
"Last year, he got injured in this game but today he held his own against one of the best wingers in recent times. So, he was outstanding.
"For everyone that is the challenge, the intensity of the games is incredible so you have to look after yourself and now he obviously played two good games, like the rest of the team, and now it is recovery and onto the next one. Then it is the international break and after that we go again."
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