Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Liverpool news: Neil Warnock reveals he SNUBBED Van Dijk before Southampton deal
NEIL WARNOCK has revealed he snubbed a chance to sign now-Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk from Celtic on the advice of his scout.
Warnock was manager of Crystal Palace back in 2014 when he was seeking a new centre-back.
Van Dijk had impressed in the Scottish Premiership and was scouted by Palace.
But the Dutchman eventually moved to Southampton and then on to Liverpool, who paid £75m for the defender in January.
Warnock’s Cardiff travel to Anfield on Saturday to face a Liverpool side who are unbeaten in Premier League this season - with Van Dijk proving a rock in the heart of defence.
"Van Dijk - I'm delighted he's playing like he is," said Warnock.
"We could have bought him at Palace for £6million but my chief scout told me he was too slow. I think he's still in a job as well!"
The Bluebirds travel to Anfield buoyed from last weekend’s 4-2 win over Fulham.
Replicating such an attacking performance is highly unlikely against Liverpool, who have conceded a joint-lowest three goals in nine games so far this season.
We could have bought him at Palace for £6million but my chief scout told me he was too slow.
Jurgen Klopp seems to have found his best centre-back pairing this season in Joe Gomez and Van Dijk.
The latter of those was the catalyst to improving the Reds’ shoddy defensive record and Warnock is wary about coming up against a full-strength Liverpool side on Saturday.
"It is virtually impossible for any team in the current game,” the 69-year-old brutally admitted.
"Their front three [Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino] is probably the best front three in the world.
“But we're playing quite well - I think we can cause them problems. You have to go there and believe you can.
"We all have to play to the top of our potential to give them a good game and hope that they're having a bit of an off day.”
As for his opposite number in the dugout, Warnock only had words of positivity for Klopp.
"I like the way he is,” Warnock continued.
“He cares, he is passionate - he pulls some faces doesn't he? He's got everything really.
"It must be lovely being in charge of a team like that but he's created it.
“They haven't always been like that. He saw what weaknesses there were and he's shored them up.”