Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has dismissed Arne Slot’s claim about Manchester United ahead of their Premier League clash this weekend.
With the October 2025 international break now over, Manchester United return to Premier League action with a challenging trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.
Ruben Amorim’s side sit 10th in the table after recording three wins from their opening seven matches, and there’s a quiet belief in the camp ahead of their meeting with a Liverpool team struggling to find form under Arne Slot.
After starting the season with five successive league victories, Liverpool have since slipped to three defeats in a row across all competitions against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea.
United will look to build on their recent momentum, hoping that a strong showing at Anfield can serve as the catalyst for a consistent run of positive results in the weeks ahead.
Van Dijk dismisses Slot claim about United
Virgil van Dijk will be aiming to get Liverpool back to winning ways against United and he has explained how the hosts will need to be ready for this clash.
“They made quality signings and they can hurt any team in the league, that’s what they’ve been doing at times throughout the season,” the defender told Sky Sports.
“Like I said, it’s a game that we have to be ready for whatever scenario, set-pieces or counter-attacks, we have to be ready.”
While United currently sit 10th in the Premier League table, Liverpool boss Slot has claimed that they could be higher than that position. “United, in my opinion, has had a better start of the season than maybe the league table is showing,” he told reporters.
This is something that was brought up to Van Dijk, although the Liverpool captain dismissed those claims and instead suggested that Liverpool could ‘exploit’ United’s weaknesses. “At times, they’ve shown a lot of quality. But at times, they’ve shown vulnerability, and hopefully that’s something we can exploit,” he said.
United can also exploit Liverpool’s weaknesses
While it is undeniable that this United side have weaknesses, so do Liverpool. Their vulnerability on the counter-attack has been clear this season.
Amorim wants his team to control games but this feels like the type of clash which needs the Reds to soak up pressure before allowing the likes of Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško to attack quickly.
That is the way United can hurt their rivals and potentially secure a surprise win at Anfield, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2016.
It would certainly be a good way for Amorim to finally secure back-to-back victories as United boss.
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