DIJK DECLARES WAR

VIRGIL VAN DIJK has promised Manchester City that Liverpool will not take a backward step at the Etihad on Tuesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to Manchester on the brink of reaching the Champions League semifinals after a 3-0 first-leg demolition of Pep Guardiola’s side at Anfield.

Van Dijk said: “I don’t think it is a good idea to sit back and see what City are going to do. We have to play our game and try to score more goals. I don’t think people will say it is all over. Everybody knows how much quality City have got, and you could see it in the second half at Anfield, when they were really pressing us.

“Obviously, we kept a clean sheet, and that is very important. We need to be aware and be ready for anything.”

Of his own imperious form, van Dijk, 26, added: “I don’t take any personal credit for anything. We all do it together.”