'Virgil van Dijk walked off furious when I interviewed him after Erling Haaland masterclass'

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Few strikers can make Virgil van Dijk look uncomfortable but Erling Haaland managed it back in 2019. The Norwegian powerhouse was on the scoresheet yet again on Sunday as Manchester City cruised to a commanding 3-0 win over Liverpool .

After missing an early penalty, Haaland made amends midway through the first half, nodding home the opener - even if he knew little about it - to put City in front at the Etihad. Van Dijk thought he'd levelled the score soon after with a powerful header but his effort was controversially ruled out for offside, with Andy Robertson judged to have impeded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma .

City took full advantage by doubling their lead on the stroke of half-time, when Nico Gonzalez's long-range effort took a wicked deflection off Van Dijk's feebly-extended boot and looped past the wrong-footed Giorgi Mamardashvili. After the break, Jeremy Doku - who had been dancing and dazzling all evening - crowned his fabulous performance with a fabulous goal, curling the ball home from outside the box to seal City's first win over Liverpool since the 2022/23 season.

The Belgian was by far the standout but Haaland was a menace in his own right, tormenting Liverpool's defenders all night - and not for the first time, either. Back in October 2019, the forward - then spearheading Red Bull Salzburg's attack - exploded onto the scene by coming off the bench and scoring at Anfield in a thrilling 4-3 defeat to the reigning European champions.

Weeks earlier, Haaland had marked his Champions League debut with a blistering hattrick against Genk but it was that cameo on Merseyside that truly turned heads - and, by some accounts, left Van Dijk simmering with frustration.

After the game, former Norway international Jan Aage Fjortoft claimed that Van Dijk was so incensed he refused to answer questions about Haaland - allegedly to avoid discussing his own mistakes against the youngster - before abruptly ending the interview.

"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.

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"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 later, Haaland signed for Borussia Dortmund , turning down a move to Manchester United in the process. In Germany, he plundered 86 goals in 89 games before joining Manchester City in 2022 - where he has since continued his habit of tormenting Liverpool.

Sunday's strike was his fourth in nine appearances against the Reds and judging by Van Dijk's pre-match comments, the Dutchman may have sensed what was coming. "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.

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Despite their on-field battles, there's clear mutual respect between the two. Haaland has spoken highly of Van Dijk ahead of the game, describing him as "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 result leaves City second in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Arsenal . Liverpool, meanwhile, have slipped to eighth after suffering their fifth defeat in six league games.

For a brief moment, it seemed their troubles were easing - a 2-0 win over Aston Villa followed by a 1-0 triumph against Real Madrid in the Champions League offered hope, but their timid display at the Etihad suggests Liverpool still have a long road ahead before they can truly shake off the dust.

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