Virgil van Dijk has impressed Roy Keane recently after what he’s done for his Liverpool teammates.
The Reds have had a decent couple of games against Aston Villa and Real Madrid recently, but before then, things weren’t going to plan.
In fact, some fans were even calling for Arne Slot to be axed after the month of poor performances that Liverpool endured in October.
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Since then, they’ve seemed to regroup and get back to their best, with several players such as Mohamed Salah and even Conor Bradley getting back to their best.
Conor Bradley of Liverpool celebrates with Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool at full time following the 1-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
The increase in performance from Liverpool’s players will be something that helps them out massively, with Keane now saying that he loves what Van Dijk has been doing to help his men get back to their best.
Roy Keane likes that Virgil van Dijk has faced most of Liverpool’s criticism head-on
There’s no hiding from the fact that Liverpool have been far from their best this term.
They’re currently sitting third in the Premier League table with Arsenal running away with it at the top.
The Reds may have beaten the Gunners, but since that game, no other team has been a match for Mikel Arteta’s men.
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This meant that Liverpool needed to get back to their best as soon as possible; otherwise, their 2025-26 season would have been as good as over.
Most fans, pundits, and journalists have criticised Liverpool this season, but Keane has been left in awe of Van Dijk after he’s been fighting back against the criticism sent Liverpool’s way.
“It looks like Van Dijk is rallying around a little bit and trying to sort of take the heat off everyone,” Neville said on the Stick to Football Podcast.
“I think to be fair, you look at what he’s doing at the moment, Van Dijk, I mean, he didn’t play well a couple of weeks ago against United, but he’s standing up in interviews, he’s fighting back, you can tell he’s defending his patch, you know what I mean?”
To which Keane replied: “Well, he likes to fight back, even in his interviews, he does pick up on the comments, he does get hurt by that. No, I don’t mind that.”
Liverpool need to keep Erling Haaland silent in their Premier League clash against Manchester City
Liverpool’s Premier League game against Manchester City will be no walk in the park.
Both teams will bring their A-game to the clash, with the Reds wanting to prove that their recent wins haven’t just been flukes.
The fact that Arne Slot has now found a back four which helps keep Liverpool defensively solid has no doubt helped matters, but if they don’t continue winning, their victories against Aston Villa and Real Madrid will mean nothing.
City will be a completely different challenge for Liverpool to face, especially with the form that Erling Haaland has found himself in recently.
Manchester City's Erling Haland reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images
As long as Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate can keep Haaland silent, the Reds should be fine.
If they can’t, it could end up rather messy for the Anfield outfit.