Forward thinking the key for VVD

PROUD: Virgil Van Dijk VIRGIL VAN DIJK has warned Man City they will face another “nightmare” at The Etihad on Tuesday.

Liverpool take a 3-0 lead to City’s home as they look to book a coveted place in the Champions League Semi-Finals.

Van Dijk does not believe the battle is won but predicts players such as Roberto Firmino will give Pep Guardiola’s men more grief.

Firmino (below) was on fire alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane on a night the Anfield crowd will not forget.

And there is more suffering from where that came, according to the Reds’ £75million defender.

Van Dijk, asked what it was like to play behind Firmino, Salah and Mane, said: “It is amazing. Not just attacking but also defensively.

“Bobby is a real nightmare to try to play against. “And it all starts from them.

“If the midfield do their job too, then we may have an easy night. “But everybody knows how much quality City have got and you could see it in the second half.

“They were pressing us hard but we kept a clean sheet and that is very important.

“How we reacted under that pressure makes me proud.

“We were struggling but everyone worked hard, kept together and made sure we had a clean sheet.

“We all work hard. We feel good and we need to keep going. I don’t think it is a good idea to sit back, though, to see what they are going to do on Tuesday.

“We just have to play our game and try to score goals.

“We need to be aware and be ready for anything.”

Team-mate James Milner also praised the team effort against one of his old clubs.

He said: “I think everything has been said about our front three and hopefully they will keep on doing it.

“It’s hard to put a different spin on it.

“The three of them are top-class players who have been brilliant for us.

“Mo is getting most of the headlines for the goals and the impact he’s had.

“But the three of them as a unit have been great.

“Then there’s the boys behind them who have given them the chances.”