Manchester City and Arsenal as Liverpool braces for a potential three-way battle for the title.
Van Dijk has been a constant figure in Slot’s first nine league matches, with Liverpool trailing Manchester City by just one point.
Liverpool is familiar with the pursuit of Pep Guardiola’s side, having won the league in 2020 but missing the title twice to City despite accumulating over 90 points.
These high standards have raised expectations for title contenders. Unlike the old rivalry between Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, even a draw between Liverpool and City is often seen as a letdown, fueling a new competitive rivalry.
Arsenal’s progress under Mikel Arteta introduced a three-way race last season until Liverpool’s form dipped.
Van Dijk acknowledged to Rio Ferdinand that the league’s shifting dynamics motivate him to perform at his best.
On the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Van Dijk was asked about his toughest opponents & named Liverpool’s two closest title rivals. “I would say in this case then the City and Arsenal, especially from last year, it’s always tough against them,” he said.
“You know that if you’re not focused for a second or slip up or whatever, you could get punished immediately.
“But that’s the beauty of the Premier League anyway, you play against good strikers week in, week out, and then you have this year’s Champions League back again. It’s only something I really enjoy and it keeps me on my toes. I love it.”
Many fans might have assumed Van Dijk would point to City’s Erling Haaland as his toughest opponent. However, both Arsenal and City’s varied attacking options prevent teams from focusing on just one player.
Bukayo Saka’s goal for Arsenal against Liverpool last weekend highlights this, as Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville pointed out that Van Dijk should have supported left-back Andy Robertson.
Last season, Liverpool finished nine points behind City, winning only three of their last eight matches as they slipped from the top spot.
Under new manager Slot, Liverpool has started the season well. However, the three main title contenders have all shown weaknesses, with Liverpool stumbling against Nottingham Forest.
City has conceded the first goal in four of their nine games, hinting at a slightly less solid defense. Meanwhile, injuries and suspensions have set Arsenal back by three points, adding to the intrigue of this season’s title race.
