Virgil van Dijk says praise from opponents shows Liverpool ‘on the right track’

“That’s the only thing we should take from it and other than that it is just focusing on doing it and staying consistent.”

Virgil van Dijk, left, celebrates with Mohamed Salah (Jon Super/AP)

Captain Virgil van Dijk thinks the praise being lavished on Liverpool as the best team in Europe is merely a validation for the way head coach Arne Slot has them playing and no-one is believing the general hype.

For the second successive match the opposition manager – on this occasion Lille’s Bruno Genesio after their 2-1 defeat at Anfield – said the Reds were the benchmark other teams should aspire to.