‘We don’t fear PSG’ (Van Dijk)

Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool will have no fear when they travel to Paris Saint-Germain for their crucial Champions League clash this week. The Reds know that victory in the French capital on Wednesday would likely secure their place in the last 16 of Europe’s premier knockout competition, but are also aware that a defeat against the Ligue 1 champions would place them in a precarious position heading into their final group match with Napoli in a fortnight’s time. It promises, then, to be quite an occasion. Liverpool ran out 3-2 victors when the sides met at Anfield back in September, but PSG have won all 14 of their domestic games so far this season, and could be boosted by the return of the injured duo of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for this week’s contest. Van Dijk, though, says Jurgen Klopp’s men are ready to take care of business – whoever takes to the field on Wednesday night. “I don’t have any fear,” said the Dutch international. “We respect them as a team but the thing is we want to win the game. We are going to totally up for it, motivated and we will make sure we are ready from the start. “We don’t need to forget that we are one of the best teams in Europe as well. We reached the final last year and we want to do at least the same this year. That’s our goal. So we are going to try, try and beat them.” Liverpool head into the game buoyed by Saturday’s 3-0 victory at Watford, a game which saw them extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season to 13 games, and set a new club record for the fewest goals conceded (five) at this stage of a league campaign. Impressive stuff, even if the common perception is that the Reds are not yet operating at the level of Manchester City, the league champions and current leaders. Klopp’s side remain two points behind Pep Guardiola’s men. (Goal)