Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says he does not view his club's rivalry with Manchester City any differently despite the club's guilty verdict for breaching Premier League financial rules. He said the rivalry was great on the pitch and that what happened off it is for others to judge.
Liverpool and City clashed for several years under Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, with City twice pipping the Reds to the title by a single point. City's success has faced intense scrutiny since an independent commission found the club guilty of the breaches. Van Dijk said he is not ready to comment while the process is still ongoing, but he will share his opinion once the verdict is final.
City were braced for a hostile reception at Anfield, and Liverpool supporters frequently chanted "cheats" during the game. Van Dijk said everyone could hear it and that fans are entitled to their feelings, but he believes players should stay out of the matter for now.
City won 3-0 at Anfield. Van Dijk said Liverpool had been struggling with injuries and had shown fight and intensity in the first half, but that the defeat still hurts.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing