Van Dijk stands by City rivalry despite £900m financial rules guilty verdict

Virgil van Dijk has insisted his admiration for Liverpool’s rivalry with Manchester City has not been diminished by the independent commission’s guilty verdict finding City in breach of 114 Premier League financial rules charges, though the captain indicated he will share a fuller opinion once the appeals process is resolved.

City were found to have inflated their income by more than £900m over a nine-year period — a financial advantage that contributed to two title races in which they edged Liverpool by a single point. Van Dijk, who was part of the Liverpool side that displaced Pep Guardiola’s team as champions in 2020 and knocked them out of the Champions League in 2018, said the verdict had not reframed those contests in his mind.

“No, because I really enjoyed our rivalry and it was a great rivalry on the pitch,” the 35-year-old said. “What happened off the pitch — that is for others to find a conclusion on and then let’s see.”

City are appealing against the verdict, and Van Dijk acknowledged the ongoing nature of proceedings as his reason for restraint. “It’s still a little bit ongoing so I don’t think it’s smart for me to comment on it right now,” he said, “but when the verdict comes out I will definitely have my opinion and I will probably share it as well.”

City won 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday, a match in which their players were subjected to repeated chants branding them cheats. Van Dijk suggested the reception would not be unique to Liverpool’s ground. “I think everyone could hear it. Everyone can share their feelings and I don’t think Anfield will be the only place where it will be the case because fans will have their feelings.”

On the pitch, Van Dijk has started every Premier League and Champions League fixture this season, missing only the Carabao Cup win over Tottenham. Liverpool face four games in 10 days and nine in 29, yet the defender said he had no intention of requesting a rest from manager Andoni Iraola — even while managing a calf problem picked up late in Sunday’s defeat.

“No. Do you think I want a rest?” he said. “I’m doing everything in my power to be ready. I had a little knock in the end on my calf which is pretty painful so I’m going home to get some treatment to be ready for Wednesday.”