YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN CITY DOWN

Van Dijk not taking the fallen champs lightly

- NEIL MOXLEY and CHRIS MCKENNA

VIRGIL VAN DIJK says Manchester City's woes won't fool Liverpool.

The Reds travel to the Etihad tomorrow facing a team that has imploded during the past three months.

The air of confidence surrounding Pep Guardiola's champions has been punctured as their Champions League exit against Real Madrid showed.

With injury problems surrounding star striker Erling Haaland and with Arne Slot's Anfield men boasting an eightpoint cushion, the odds are stacked - for once in the visitors' favour.

But the Dutch centre-half isn't reading anything into City's troubles.

He said: "I expect a very difficult game.

They still have the quality to hurt you.

"We've always been playing against each other intensely and this will be just like that. Now, it's time to recover and be ready for a big one. I don't think it's going to be any different.