'I spoke to Virgil van Dijk after Erling Haaland masterclass - his reaction spoke volumes'

Few forwards have the ability to unsettle Virgil van Dijk, but Erling Haaland achieved just that back in 2019. The Norwegian sensation was once again on target on Sunday as Manchester City sailed to a decisive 3-0 victory over Liverpool. After failing to convert an early penalty, Haaland redeemed himself halfway through the first half, heading in the opening goal, albeit unknowingly, to give City the lead at the Etihad. Van Dijk believed he had equalised shortly after with a forceful header, but his attempt was controversially deemed offside, with Andy Robertson adjudged to have obstructed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

City capitalised fully by doubling their advantage on the brink of half-time, when Nico Gonzalez's long-distance shot took a cruel deflection off Van Dijk's weakly extended foot and looped past the misfooted Giorgi Mamardashvili. After the interval, Jeremy Doku, who had been mesmerising all evening, capped his splendid performance with a stunning goal, bending the ball into the net from outside the box to secure City's first triumph over Liverpool since the 2022/23 season.

The Belgian was undoubtedly the standout performer, but Haaland was a threat in his own right, tormenting Liverpool's defenders throughout the match - and not for the first time. Back in October 2019, the forward, then leading Red Bull Salzburg's attack, burst onto the scene by coming off the bench and scoring at Anfield in a thrilling 4-3 loss to the then European champions.

Just weeks prior, Haaland had announced himself on the Champions League stage with a stunning hat-trick against Genk, but it was his brief appearance on Merseyside that genuinely caught the eye - and, according to some reports, left Van Dijk seething with anger...

Following the final whistle, former Norway international Jan Aage Fjortoft suggested that Van Dijk was so furious he declined to answer questions about Haaland, supposedly to sidestep discussing his own errors against the teenager, before cutting the interview short.

"The first time I saw him [Haaland] live was at Anfield when he came on and I was amazed that this young kid created so much space," Fjortoft told the Blood Red podcast in 2020. "He scored one goal but he could have had three or four - he was unbelievable. I was amazed how he created space and how I define that is how his runs are wise and experienced.

"After the game, I interviewed Van Dijk, who I always like to interview because he is a gentleman, and I said 'I have to ask you about the Norwegian, Erling Halaand.' And he just said: 'Well, we won the game'. So I said 'Yes, but what do you think about him?' Van Dijk said: 'I didn't see a lot of him' and he was a bit angry because there was some mistakes done.

"And I said 'It's a good sign for a striker when a defender says he didn't see him!' - and then he just went away, Van Dijk."

Two months afterwards, Haaland joined Borussia Dortmund, rejecting Manchester United in the process. In Germany, he netted 86 goals in 89 matches before moving to Manchester City in 2022, where he has maintained his record of troubling Liverpool.

Sunday's goal was his fourth in nine encounters against the Reds and based on Van Dijk's pre-match remarks, the Dutchman may have anticipated what was to follow. "We face a team that is very in form and a striker who is very in form as well. We have to be spot on [against him]," the centre-back said.

Despite their on-pitch rivalry, there's evident mutual respect between the pair. Haaland has praised Van Dijk ahead of the match, calling him "an amazing player."

Speaking to Stan Sport Football, he said: "Of course, it's fun [to play against Liverpool]. I play football, I do what I love, and of course it's fun," said the Norwegian. "He [Van Dijk] is an amazing player, Liverpool is an amazing team. So as I said, we need to be ready."

Sunday's outcome leaves City second in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Arsenal. Liverpool, meanwhile, have dropped to eighth after experiencing their fifth loss in six league fixtures.