Virgil van Dijk conceded the "damage was done in Liverpool" as the Reds' exit from the Champions League was confirmed in a 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Despite racing into a two-goal lead in the first leg at Anfield last month, Jurgen Klopp's men succumbed to a 5-2 reverse in a tie that represented a repeat of last season's final, which Madrid won 1-0 in Paris.

Liverpool had their moments at the Santiago Bernabeu but were unable to find a breakthrough and also had goalkeeper Alisson to thank for giving them a fighting chance.

But ultimately, Madrid star Karim Benzema's 78th-minute goal earned Carlo Ancelotti's side a 1-0 win on the night and a 6-2 aggregate success.

Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Liverpool centre-back Van Dijk said: "I think if I'm honest the first half was quite even. 

"It's always going to be a very difficult task to come here and turn it all around. But you try not to look ahead, you try to win obviously.

"In my time at Liverpool with the games we've played against Real Madrid, I've never won against them, so it's always something that we wanted to do, we wanted to win.

"I think we created some dangerous moments in the first half. They had a couple of shots from distance as well and obviously with the quality they have on the break, especially Benzema dropping in, Vinicius with the speed and obviously his quality. It could always be dangerous on the break. 

"It was tough but I think the damage was done in Liverpool and that's the most disappointing thing."

Van Dijk acknowledged Madrid's coolness in the big moments was a decisive factor.

"I think you play against a team who never get fazed a little bit," he added. "Even when you put them under pressure, even if [they] have difficult moments, they try to stay calm and obviously they have the players, if you look at [Luka] Modric, Benzema they're difference-makers and especially when they're under pressure.

"But still, I think in the first half we could have scored and it could be a totally different game. But today was definitely all about the small margins, and [in the] second half you try your absolute best and you just come too short."

Roberto Firmino is a Liverpool legend in the eyes of Virgil van Dijk and the perfect teacher for Cody Gakpo.

Firmino has informed the Reds he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, bringing an end to eight trophy-laden years at Anfield.

The Brazil forward came off the bench to score Liverpool's final goal in the 7-0 drubbing of Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, his eighth in 18 appearances in the league this season.

Following a week in which Firmino's future took centre-stage, Van Dijk hailed the impact he has had on the team's success.

"You can't deny how important he's been for the success that we've had," Van Dijk told reporters.

"But as a human being as well, he's a great guy and I wish him obviously all the best after the summer.

"For now, we still have targets to reach, and he knows that, and he wants to make sure that we fulfil them as well.

"He's been so influential, and he should definitely be remembered as one of the legends."

Virgil van Dijk hailed "an important win" for Liverpool as they beat Wolves 2-0 at Anfield ahead of welcoming Manchester United on Sunday where he says they will "need a big atmosphere".

Van Dijk scored the opener as the Reds finally broke down their resolute opponents in the 73rd minute on Wednesday, heading in a Diogo Jota cross before Mohamed Salah made the points safe with a second four minutes later.

Liverpool move up to sixth in the table, while the Dutchman has now scored 20 goals in the Premier League, the most of any central defender in the competition since he joined Southampton from Celtic in 2015.

"An important win, so it's time to recover and focus on the next one," Van Dijk told Premier League Productions. "Of course [we had to be patient]. I think we see the games we played against them this season, they have been quite tough and today it wasn't any different so we had to be patient and wait for the moment."

Liverpool face an in-form United at home on Sunday, and Van Dijk is in no doubt as to how difficult the game will be, which is why they will need the fans' help.

"I think we need a big atmosphere on Sunday," he said. "I think today obviously it was quite nervous and hopefully on Sunday we can get everyone in their best – including us, because we obviously have to do the hard work on the pitch against an in-form Man United. So, we will recover now and we will be ready for Sunday of course."

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also looked forward to Sunday's game, saying: "I think Man United is the team in form at the moment, maybe together with Arsenal and [Manchester] City are [also] doing well.

"The teams up there are all in a pretty good moment and I didn’t see yet the line-up [for United’s FA Cup win over West Ham] but maybe they changed quite a few? That means some of them will be a bit fresher than us, but it's a home game and it's Anfield.

"I thought Anfield proved a point tonight again, it was super, super-enjoyable. It felt like a proper unit, we were all together – I loved that. That's what we need again on Sunday, but of course it will be difficult.

"Again, if you face United at the weekend whichever result you've had before, either way you have to strike back or whatever, but now we have to use it for our general situation. We have to build on the performance and on the result – and we try everything to do exactly that."

Klopp was also pleased with the performance of Van Dijk, as well as the rest of his team's defensive showing as they recorded a fourth clean sheet in a row in the league.

"Yeah, we all need that [performance] and [Van Dijk] needs that as well and it's obviously a really good one, in a tough game for defenders," Klopp said. "I thought we performed tonight, we played a really good game in general.

"But I really think the centre-halves and Fabinho together, how they covered that area, how they denied the counter-attacks, how they defended into midfield, which is very important against a team who play with one striker. I thought they did really well."

Liverpool got the better of Wolves on a wet night at Anfield, eventually beating their familiar opponent 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

It was the fourth meeting between the two teams in the last two months, having also faced off twice in the FA Cup third round as well as at Molineux in the Premier League.

That familiarity could explain why it was such a tight contest for the first three-quarters, with neither team able to create much of note before Van Dijk's header 17 minutes from time.

Salah gave his team some breathing space four minutes later as Liverpool moved up to sixth in the table as they hunt down the top four and Champions League qualification.

It was the visitors who had the first chance of note, with Joao Moutinho forcing Alisson into an early save down to his right with an effort from just inside the box.

An organised Wolves kept Liverpool at bay for much of the first half, though Harvey Elliott should have given the hosts the lead in the 40th minute.

Elliott headed wide from close range after Darwin Nunez had cut the ball back from the left, before Jose Sa denied him again just before the break after Nunez had chested the ball to him on the edge of the box.

Liverpool thought they had taken the lead just after the hour when an incisive run from Diogo Jota allowed Nunez a chance to hammer the loose ball into the net, but referee Paul Tierney decided Jota had fouled a Wolves defender after being sent to the monitor by the VAR.

Jurgen Klopp's men were ahead in the 73rd minute though when Van Dijk directed a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick towards goal off his shoulder, with Sa saving well to his right, only for Jota to pull it back for the Dutch defender to head in.

It was two shortly after as a one-two between Kostas Tsimikas and substitute Cody Gakpo allowed the Greek left-back to race forward and provide Salah with a simple tap in and Liverpool with three valuable points.

Virgil van Dijk acknowledged Liverpool were at fault for their mistakes in their Champions League loss to Real Madrid but argued they cannot expect to perform like "robots".

Liverpool blew a two-goal lead at Anfield, slumping to a 5-2 loss in the first leg of their last-16 tie against the holders.

Amid a difficult season for Jurgen Klopp's side, their collapse against Madrid made for a chastening rematch of last year's final, which finished 1-0 to Los Blancos in Paris.

Van Dijk did not dispute another off-colour performance yet the centre-back stressed errors are to be expected when players are only human.

"[Across] the whole of the Champions League, there are quality players all over teams," he told reporters. "They can punish you, and can punish the mistakes that you make.

"That's what they did in the second half, and it is pretty clear to see. [There were] mistakes that we shouldn't make, but it happens in football.

"We're not robots, sometimes mistakes happen. That is the case. The only thing we can do is learn from it and focus on the next one to ensure it doesn't happen [again]."

After goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah had given them a two-goal cushion inside the opening 15 minutes, Liverpool seemed on course for a memorable Anfield triumph.

Yet their defensive frailties came to the fore as Vinicius Junior curled in a supreme finish before pouncing on Alisson's mistake to restore parity.

Eder Militao put Madrid ahead early in the second half before Karim Benzema's double left the hosts with a mountain to climb in the return leg next month.

Klopp was less than impressed with cheap concessions, but did feel his side's first-half performance was among the best they have delivered this campaign.

"We gave all five goals away," he said in his post-match press conference. 

"All five. We could have done better there [but] in our situation where we are, it is really important we that see positive steps.

"I think the first half, aside from the two goals we conceded, was the best we've played [across] the whole season.

"The second half obviously was the game Real Madrid wanted to play, and that's how we came to the result."

Virgil van Dijk suggested Liverpool's win over Newcastle United could mark a turning point in the Reds' season.

The Magpies had not lost a Premier League game at St James' Park since April last year – coincidentally also against Liverpool – but came unstuck on Saturday.

Darwin Nunez's clinical strike and Cody Gakpo's close-range finish had Liverpool 2-0 up early on, and Nick Pope's red card for handling the ball outside his area in the 22nd minute seemingly doomed Newcastle.

Eddie Howe's side put up a good fight and hit the crossbar twice, but Liverpool did enough to take the points as they completed a double over their hosts.

Liverpool's win followed on from Monday's Merseyside derby victory over Everton and means they will be just three points behind fourth-placed Newcastle if they win their game in hand next weekend.

Asked if it was a significant result for the Reds, Van Dijk told Sky Sports: "Let's hope so.

"We have had results in the season already where we felt like now is the time to kick on, but this feels a little bit different.

"I think coming away from the big win against Everton, it was important for us to keep going, find a way to win, show your intensity, particularly in the beginning.

"The red card changed the game a little bit for them, also for us, and we could've done better.

"But to win here…there's a reason we are the only team so far this season that has beaten them [in the Premier League], so I'm very proud of the boys."

Trent Alexander-Arnold concurred with his team-mate, the right-back adamant Liverpool needed to follow up the derby victory with another positive result if beating Everton was to mean anything.

"It's massive for us. This was a big one," the England international added.

"We got our win against Everton, I think that was massive as well, but it wouldn't have meant anything if we'd not come here and backed it up with another win.

"That's what we came to do. They're a tough side to beat, very tough, but we picked them apart with two good goals, then obviously the red card settles the game down for us, makes it even harder for them.

"It was tough, it's a tough place to come, not many teams win here, so we are delighted to take the three points home."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Virgil van Dijk "looks absolutely ready" to make his return from injury against Newcastle United this weekend.

Netherlands international Van Dijk has not played for Liverpool since sustaining a hamstring injury during the 3-1 loss to Brentford on January 2.

The 31-year-old's injury proved to be worse than initially feared, and he spent six weeks out of action prior to returning to the substitutes' bench for Monday's 2-0 win over Everton.

Having been an unused substitute in the Merseyside derby, Klopp is ready to use Van Dijk against Newcastle after stepping up his recovery on the training ground this week.

Asked if he is in contention to start Saturday's game at St James' Park, Klopp said: "I think so. Yesterday he looked absolutely ready. 

"I think [on Friday] he will look the same, and we will then make a decision."

Van Dijk's return is a major boost for Liverpool, who are without fellow centre-back Ibrahima Konate ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg with Real Madrid.

Luis Diaz and Thiago Alcantara remain sidelined for Liverpool, while Klopp confirmed young defender Calvin Ramsay is out for the season after undergoing surgery.

"Even if he could come back a bit earlier, it makes no sense," Klopp said of highly rated Ramsay, who has made two senior appearances since joining from Aberdeen.

"We've had to build him up physically, so he can have a new start [next season] when we go again. He's a great talent, a real talent who's had the most unlucky start possible."

Liverpool also welcomed Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota back from injury earlier this week to bolster their options ahead of travelling to Newcastle in a big Premier League game.

The Reds can close the gap on their fourth-placed opponents to six points with a game in hand should they win.

However, Newcastle have lost just once in the league all season – to a 98th-minute Liverpool goal in August's reverse fixture – and boast the best defensive record in the division.

"This is a massive game. If you want to reach something this season, we have to chase everybody, especially those who are ahead of us in the table," Klopp said.

"It will never be easy, but we have to try. It'll be tough; Newcastle are the best defence in the league, lost just once to us, we needed a late goal. 

"They are very consistent and that is the first step to success.

"Eddie Howe has done an exceptional job, absolutely exceptional. The financial possibilities they have, or will have, are exceptional, but it is not because of that, not at all. 

"He arrived in a difficult situation, they stayed comfortably in the league and now the team is unrecognisable. He's turned them around, and they are a proper threat."

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe may have faced off against one another in the World Cup final in Qatar, but they line up in the same XI in FIFA 23's Team of the Year.

While Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the tournament's showpiece match, it was Messi's Argentina who lifted the World Cup for a third time with a penalty shoot-out victory following a 3-3 draw after extra-time.

The Paris Saint-Germain team-mates have both made FIFA 23's Team of the Year, though, with the selections made from over 10 million votes from fans.

Despite Argentina's World Cup win, Messi is the only player from Lionel Scaloni's team to be included, with Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema completing the front three after scoring 44 goals in 46 matches in the 2021-22 season to help Real Madrid to a LaLiga title and Champions League win.

Kevin De Bruyne finished third in the Ballon d'Or rankings and is part of the midfield, alongside the evergreen Madrid star Luka Modric and Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, with the latter playing a key role for England at the World Cup at the age of just 19.

The Madrid theme running through the line-up continues at the back, with Thibaut Courtois between in goal and Eder Militao at the heart of the defence.

Virgil van Dijk joins Militao, while Theo Hernandez and Achraf Hakimi, who enjoyed excellent World Cups with France and Morocco respectively, fill the full-back roles.

Virgil van Dijk will be out of action for over a month after sustaining a hamstring injury in Liverpool's defeat to Brentford earlier this week, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.

Defender Van Dijk was one of three players substituted at half-time in Liverpool's damaging 3-1 loss at the Brentford Community Stadium, which saw them lose ground in the race for a top-four Premier League finish.

Klopp described Van Dijk's withdrawal as precautionary after the game, but reports later in the week suggested the Netherlands captain's injury was worse than initially feared.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Wolves, Klopp provided an estimated timeframe for Van Dijk's return and described his absence as a significant setback.

"On Virg, it's a surprise and obviously a big blow, as he didn't feel a lot," Klopp said at Friday's pre-match press conference. 

"I took him off actually, to avoid the risk, maybe he would have tried [to play on] and stuff like this.

"In the end, the diagnosis was pretty harsh. They talk about weeks – more than a month. 

"We have to see how it goes but we have other centre-halves. Everything is okay for the team but for Virg, it's hard for him. He's played an incredible amount of games over the last few years.

"We cannot use him on the pitch, only off the pitch, so we will do that."

Asked whether the congested festive fixture list had caused Van Dijk's injury, Klopp responded: "It's his hamstring. 

"He never had an issue with muscles or mentioned anything, between the games he was recovering.

"There's nothing to say about it, we did nothing different. It was one sprint."

As well as Saturday's meeting with Wolves, Van Dijk now appears likely to miss Premier League fixtures against Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea before the end of January.

Klopp will be desperate to have Van Dijk available for a crucial spell next month, in which Liverpool face Merseyside rivals Everton and fellow top-four contenders Newcastle United before playing the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid.

Virgil van Dijk's half-time withdrawal in Liverpool's 3-1 defeat to Brentford was a precautionary measure after the defender struggled with the intensity of the game, Jurgen Klopp explained.

With an Ibrahima Konate own goal and a Yoane Wissa header putting Liverpool 2-0 down before the break, Klopp rang the changes by removing Van Dijk, Konstantinos Tsimikas and Harvey Elliott from the action.

While replacements Joel Matip, Andrew Robertson and Naby Keita initially had a positive impact, they were unable to stop the Reds from sliding to their first defeat against the Bees since 1938.

Van Dijk began the game as captain with both Jordan Henderson and James Milner out, and his withdrawal led to suggestions he had sustained an injury.

However, Klopp outlined his belief that the Netherlands skipper had avoided any lasting damage in his post-match press conference, revealing: "Virgil felt a little bit the muscle but said he is fine, and he's a very good judge of these kinds of things. 

"But I didn't want to take any risk – the physios looked quite happy when I said we don't take risks. I think it is not an injury, he just felt the intensity.

"The other two were tactical. We obviously had the opportunities.

"We could bring in Naby, who I think played a really good game, and Robbo – and Robbo with the first action after half-time was exactly what we needed. 

"We needed that speed in behind and so that was the reason for these two changes."

Liverpool's loss at the Brentford Community Stadium dealt a huge blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification, leaving them four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United having played a game more.

Virgil van Dijk has not given up on Liverpool's Premier League title hopes despite being 15 points behind Arsenal.

The Reds came from behind to beat Leicester City 2-1 at Anfield on Friday thanks to two Wout Faes own goals, making it four league wins on the bounce for Jurgen Klopp's men.

Van Dijk previously acknowledged Liverpool's performance against the Foxes had been underwhelming, but results are suddenly looking up for a side that had headed into November with just two wins – and three defeats – in seven top-flight games.

Liverpool are four points adrift of great rivals Manchester United in fourth, and yet Van Dijk is still not admitting defeat in the Premier League title race, even though Arsenal are starting to create a handsome lead over everyone.

For Van Dijk, this belief and motivation has partly come from his experience at the World Cup, where the Netherlands were eliminated by eventual winners Argentina in a feisty quarter-final.

He remains hopeful of international success being just around the corner, and this mentality is seemingly keeping his eyes on the prize with Liverpool as well.

"Things were disappointing in the end [for the Netherlands], that is also part of football," he told reporters.

"It was a tough couple of days but then it was about switching back towards the most important things in life; my wife and kids.

"It fuels me because I want to be successful with the Netherlands. I feel like we have a fantastic squad and new era with Ronald Koeman coming back and young players coming through, like Cody [Gakpo] for example. He can make big steps with his transfer [to Liverpool] and then become more important [for the Netherlands].

"Hopefully we can do something nice in the summer with the Nations League finals, that is something I really want to win, even though it is the end of the season when you are absolutely shattered.

"It has also motivated me here. We are quite some points behind Arsenal, but the season could be a very crazy one, a very strange one.

"But we have to be realistic and we're not thinking about the title at the moment. We have to focus on the game ahead of us, win games and then we'll see."

Liverpool are next in action away to Brentford on Monday.

Virgil van Dijk felt Liverpool got away with being "very poor" in a 2-1 Premier League victory over Leicester City at Anfield.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall took advantage of some slack Reds defending to give the Foxes an early lead, but Wout Faes gifted the Reds a fourth consecutive win on Friday.

The Leicester centre-back scored two first-half own goals to give Jurgen Klopp's side a victory that moves them just two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Liverpool were not at their fluent best, with Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah wasteful in front of goal.

Reds centre-back Van Dijk offered a frank assessment of the performance in their final match of 2022, which was watched by new signing Cody Gakpo on Merseyside.

The Netherlands defender told Sky Sports: "We were very poor today but it's just good to get the three points, very important to win these type of games, that's the positive.

"Now we have to recover, improve and prepare for Brentford [on Monday]. We tried to get in the game, it wasn't good enough and we all know that. There are plenty of things we have to improve."

He added: "At times we were maybe too quick and then we lose the ball and it’s a bit too open, and they can play, but we have to take the three points and on to the next one."

Liverpool head into 2023 in sixth spot with momentum after a disappointing start to the season.

Cody Gakpo highlighted Virgil van Dijk's influence on his decision to join Liverpool after the Reds formally confirmed his arrival from PSV on Wednesday.

The Netherlands international has signed for Jurgen Klopp's side in a move reportedly worth an initial £37million (€42m) on the back of an impressive World Cup campaign.

Gakpo's arrival on Merseyside is a major boost for Klopp's men and a blow to rivals Manchester United, where the forward had been heavily tipped to join his countryman Erik ten Hag.

Speaking to Liverpool's website after sealing his transfer, Gakpo said it was another Dutchman who helped convince him he was making the right call in moving to Anfield.

"At the moment I was calling [in] with the coach, he came into the office and saw me," Gakpo said of Van Dijk. "We chatted a little bit. We spoke a lot over the phone [in] the last days.

"What he told me was that this is the right move for me to make and for me to develop and to become a better player, that the club is massive, but also like a real family.

"I think that's also very important for me because I'm a family guy. He said only good things. I'm happy that he's here, so he can help me with some stuff. I'm really grateful to be here."

Amid injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, Gakpo's arrival offers a major offensive boost to Liverpool, with the 23-year-old having scored nine goals and provided 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie games this season.

Klopp could not hide his delight at getting the move over the line, saying: "It really is great news for us that we have been able to do it.

"The work that has gone into this has been really impressive and in the end, we have managed to sign a player who we have known about for quite some time and who we believe will have a bright future with us.

"There is a lot to like about Cody. He is still only 23 years old, but he already has a lot of experience. 

"We know he is a smart footballer and a smart person, so we are excited to be able to work with him."

Virgil van Dijk would like to see Liverpool sign some "new players" in the January transfer window.

After scoring in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Monday, Van Dijk hinted at possible transfer activity from the Merseyside club, with reports suggesting he could soon be joined at Anfield by Netherlands team-mate Cody Gakpo.

The Athletic reported on Monday that Liverpool are in "advanced negotiations" with PSV for the forward for an initial fee in the region of £37million (€42m).

Manager Jurgen Klopp oversaw his team's first league game back since the World Cup, still missing attacking duo Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota through injury, with neither likely to be back until February at the earliest.

"Hopefully the injured players can come back soon, and hopefully we can welcome some new players at our football club," Van Dijk said after the win at Villa Park.

"We will see. I think that quality is always welcome at Liverpool."

Gakpo has scored nine goals and provided 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie games this season, the third-highest tally of goal contributions (21) after 14 Eredivisie games since 1999-00, ironically behind his PSV head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy (27 in 1999-00) and former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez (25 in 2009-10).

The 23-year-old also scored three goals for the Netherlands at the World Cup before their eventual elimination on penalties in the quarter-final against Argentina, who went on to lift the trophy in Qatar.

Liverpool made a winning return to Premier League action as Mohamed Salah starred and Stefan Bajcetic scored his first senior goal in an entertaining 3-1 Boxing Day win at Aston Villa.

Salah handed Liverpool a strong start when he converted Andrew Robertson's delivery from close range – making the left-back the defender with the most Premier League assists in history.

The Egypt star then teed up Virgil van Dijk to steer home a deflected second, though Liverpool came under pressure after Ollie Watkins halved the arrears with just over half an hour remaining.

However, Jurgen Klopp's side made the points safe late on as substitute Bajcetic rounded Robin Olsen to score his first Premier League goal, moving Liverpool within five points of the top four.

Liverpool needed just five minutes to take the lead, with Salah on hand to tap home Robertson's cross after the left-back latched onto a sublime outside-of-the-foot pass from Trent Alexander Arnold.

A lively first half saw both goalkeepers forced into action, though Watkins should have done better when heading at Alisson before Robin Olsen was tested by Darwin Nunez's volley.

After a series of narrow escapes, Villa failed to prevent Liverpool from striking again 37 minutes in, as Van Dijk's left-footed volley struck Ezri Konsa before finding the bottom-right corner.

The offside flag denied Watkins a goal soon after the restart, but there was to be no reprieve for Liverpool when he nodded Douglas Luiz's cross home after 59 minutes.

Liverpool then went close to a third through Nunez, but 18-year-old Bajcetic stepped off the bench to calm any nerves, latching onto a loose ball to round Olsen and lash a left-footed finish home.

What does it mean? Liverpool back in the groove

Liverpool entered the World Cup break seven points adrift of a top-four place after an inconsistent spell, leading Klopp to acknowledge his side will be playing catch-up from here on in.

However, the Reds have now won three consecutive Premier League games for the first time this season, and with over half the campaign remaining, they remain a strong contender to reach the table's upper echelons. 

Salah hits the ground running

Egypt's failure to qualify for the World Cup ensured Salah enjoyed a seven-week break ahead of Liverpool's return to action in the EFL Cup last week, and the winger looked every bit refreshed as he netted his 55th away Premier League goal for the club – a joint-high tally alongside Michael Owen.

Salah's assist then made him just the second Reds player to reach a half century for both goals and assists in the Premier League (125 goals and 50 assists), alongside Steven Gerrard (120 goals, 92 assists).

Van Dijk exploits Villa frailties

Though Villa looked menacing on the break throughout, they struggled to cope with Liverpool's attacking threat – including from set pieces.

Van Dijk lost marker Emiliano Buendia with ease to double Liverpool's lead. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the Dutchman's tally of 15 Premier League goals is more than any other defender.

What's next?

Liverpool host Leicester City in their final Premier League game of the year on Friday, while Villa's 2022 is over – they are next in action at Tottenham on New Year's Day.