Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk reveals secret to successful Joe Gomez partnership
LIVERPOOL’s Virgil van Dijk says his strong centre-back partnership with Joe Gomez is helped by their bond off of the pitch.
The Reds’ defence has been key to their unbeaten start to the season after 12 games, which is their joint-best record at this stage of a Premier League season. Only once before have Liverpool amassed 30 points, back in 2002-03.
And their back-line - which has leaked just five goals so far - has been crucial to their success.
Van Dijk and Gomez have been key to the resilience of Jurgen Klopp’s side with the pair having formed a good understanding alongside one another and stayed two of the most consistent performers so far throughout the current campaign.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown, a three-time title winner, even suggested the pair “could be one of the all-time great Premier League centre-half partnerships” because they’ve got “everything in their locker”.
Discussing Liverpool’s latest clean sheet after beating Fulham 2-0 at the weekend, Van Dijk hailed the relationship he has formed with Gomez.
“We can be very positive about that,” said the Dutchman on the Merseyside outfit’s latest shut-out.
“It was very important, especially in the second half to keep it tight at the back and I'm glad we did.
“I just enjoying playing for Liverpool, it doesn't really matter who is standing next to me. I am happy to be out there.
Me and Joe are getting along really well outside the pitch
“We have great centre-backs here. Joel [Matip] was not even on the bench and that says a lot about our squad as well.
“Me and Joe are getting along really well outside the pitch and that helps on the pitch as well.”
Van Dijk’s Liverpool are just two points shy of front-runners Manchester City in the title race and the 27-year-old admits he and his team-mates cannot afford to think about their rivals.
“For us the challenge is to win or try to win every game that is ahead of us," he said.
"The season is very long. City are not going to win every game 5-0 and are going to have tough games like everyone else.
"We need to look at what we have ahead of us and that is more important than looking at someone else.
"We are winning games so we are doing pretty well and have made a better start than last season. We have to keep building on it, improve things. It's a good sign that we are still improving but still doing well.
"City are the champions and the best team in the league but we will try everything to be as good as we can.
“We don't have to look at others, we want to look at the games we have and the next challenge we have as Liverpool is Watford away which is going to be tough. For now, though, we focus on our countries."